Cocaine in White House,Rogan Defends Women's Sports,$1B of Damage from Riots in France | The Wrap Up

Cocaine is found inside the West Wing of the White House, a federal judge blocks the Biden administration from colluding with Big Tech, Joe Rogan says that trans athletes are a threat to women's sports, and violent riots in France have caused over 1.1 billion dollars in damage. Is a small town near Houston, Texas the site of a massive smuggling operation? Let's get into it, right now. What's up guys, welcome to The Wrap-Up, where we break down the biggest stories of the week that you might have missed but definitely need to know. While it's snowing in Washington on Sunday, a shocking and disturbing incident unfolded when a substance found inside the West Wing of the White House turned out to be cocaine. This revelation sent shockwaves throughout the entire political landscape and raised serious concerns about the security of our highest government institution. According to reports, the discovery was made during routine rounds by the Secret Service in a work area of the West Wing. The D.C. Fire Department's Hazmat team swiftly responded to the scene, conducting thorough tests to confirm the identity of the white powder. The results were alarming. Cocaine hydrochloride was found inside the White House. According to ABC News, cocaine hydrochloride is considered to have effects similar to crack cocaine. This shocking development has left many wondering how such a drug could have infiltrated the building. This cocaine was found in a cubbyhole in a West Wing entry area where visitors placed and other belongings before taking tours, a source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. Authorities will be combing through surveillance footage and scrutinizing entrance laws determined to uncover how this illicit drug found its way into the heart of our government. As news of this incident broke, Representative Jim Banks, a staunch advocate for law and order, took to social media to express his outrage. He shared a provocative meme on Twitter depicting an emergency worker vacuuming a white substance in the Oval Office, captioned with the words, quote, What a disgrace. Banks' sentiments resonate with many who see this as a grave violation of the sanctity of the White House. On Tuesday, a U.S. federal court imposed restrictions on top officials and agencies in President Joe Biden's administration, prohibiting them from meeting or communicating with social media companies to moderate content. The ruling is a response to a lawsuit filed by Republican Attorney Generals from Louisiana and Missouri, who allege that government officials exceeded their authority by pressuring platforms to combat vaccine and election information they did not agree with. The court said former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki pushed social media platforms to censor COVID-19 information coming from conservative voices starting in May 2021. That's from The Daily Caller. The court's decision is seen as a victory for conservative advocates who allege that the government colluded with social media platforms to censor right-leaning content. The injunction applies to various law enforcement and health agencies, as well as prominent officials such as White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. While the order may limit efforts to combat false or hateful content, it allows for reporting criminal activity, national security threats, and also foreign election interference. Social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, and Google have yet to respond to the court's decision. Podcast King Joe Rogan is the latest celebrity to raise concerns about men who claim to be women competing in women's sports, calling it a form of, quote, forced compliance, a threat to women's sports. Rogan's remarks came during a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast, where he discussed the issue with the rapper Ice Cube. While I can't fully quote Rogan word for word, this is a family show after all, he emphasized that those who care about the integrity of women's sports should be against it. In part, Rogan said, quote, If you care about biological women, you should be against that, adding, quote, There's a reason why there's women's sports. There's a reason why there's men's sports. Ice Cube added to the discussion, noting that there is no legal barrier preventing a male athlete, such as LeBron James, from retiring from men's sports and then identifying as a transgender woman to dominating the WNBA. Rogan agreed, suggesting that such a scenario would pose a challenge for sports organizations. Numerous women, including former NCAA swimming champion Riley Gaines and women's cycling champion Inga Thompson, have been actively opposing the inclusion of men in women's sports. Even prominent figures like Caitlyn Jenner and JK Rowling have spoken out against this practice. Currently, 22 states have passed laws and rules restricting transgender participation in women's sports. However, these regulations face legal challenges from left-wing activists, and the Biden administration has been supportive of the transgender movement, attempting to override state laws through federal regulations. In France, the scale of destruction and vandalism caused by nearly a week of nightly riots has reached alarming levels. The unrest was triggered by the shooting death of an Algerian heritage teenager by a police officer in a Paris suburb during a traffic stop. Le Parisien reports that there have been 5,662 vehicle fires since the riots began, with 1,919 fires recurring on Tuesday night alone. In a situation very reminiscent of the 2020 George Floyd riots, the destruction includes at least 1,000 buildings that have been damaged during the riots, including 254 police stations, numerous schools, town halls, post offices, and also private commercial properties. The attacks have also targeted public transport, leaving less affluent communities who heavily rely on it with limited mobility. While the government initially responded slowly to the violence, the police deployment rate was eventually increased from 7,000 officers to almost 45,000 per night. A significant number of arrests have already been made, with 2,354 individuals taken into custody. The average age of those arrested is 17, and 60 percent of those have no prior criminal record. Tragically, one firefighter reportedly died over the weekend, though authorities have not officially linked the fatality to the riots. The exact cost of the riots and the full extent of the damage is yet to be determined. However, with over 1,000 buildings affected and 1,000 vehicles destroyed, the repercussions of those violent protests are likely to be felt for some time. It's time for your Newser's Note. Ron Eves of Texas Scorecard reports that in a quiet Texas town near Houston, thousands of planes registered by foreigners have caught the attention of law enforcement agencies. The question on everyone's mind, are these aircraft being used for illegal smuggling? Aircraft Guarantee Corporation, a company originally based in that small town, acts as the trustee for these planes. Now, what's shocking is that these planes are registered in two post office boxes in town for a mere $5 each, and it would appear that these planes have never actually touched the ground in the Texas town, which, get this, has no airport. So, why is this actually significant? Well, U.S. regulations grant these planes an N on their FANTELs, making it easier for them to cross borders with less scrutiny when checked for contraband. And here's where it gets even more troubling. AGC, the very company entrusted with these aircraft, has been indicted a staggering 22 times for engaging in illegal aircraft transactions. Many of these cases involved include drug smuggling operations utilizing these registered planes. For instance, only to be found abandoned on an airstrip in Cayo District, Belize. The seats had been removed, and the aircraft was configured for drug smuggling. As our nation grapples with the border crisis, these unconventional means of drug smuggling become a concerning distraction from judicial methods. The indictment against AGC officials was issued by the federal grand jury of the Eastern District of Texas in Sherman, and it's about time that justice is served. The owner of AGC, Deborah Mercer Irwin, has already been convicted on charges of money laundering, wire fraud, and conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine. Shockingly, she not only facilitated the importation of drugs to the United States using these registered planes, but it doesn't end there. Mercer's daughter, Kaylee, has also pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit export violations. Another co-defendant in this case, Carlo Roca, has confessed to conspiracy to manufacture and money laundering and also export violations. Acting U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Gange meant no words, stating, quote, The use of United States-registered aircraft by these criminal organizations and their networks of associates poses a clear and present danger to the security of our nation. It's alarming to note that even with these indictments, AGC still has over 500 aircraft registered under their name. This is a critical issue that demands immediate attention, and we will continue to monitor the developments closely. Thank you for tuning in. Be sure to like, comment, and share this video, and be sure to subscribe to PragerU.com and download the PragerU app. I will see you guys next week right here on The Wrap-Up. See you soon.