Morning Wire Episode Summary: "Biden’s 'Politburo' & Homan’s Sanctuary City Plan" | May 22, 2025

Presented by Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley and co-host Georgia Howe, the Morning Wire podcast delves into the latest developments in politics, culture, and national security. In this episode, released on May 22, 2025, the hosts explore explosive allegations surrounding President Joe Biden's administration and discuss border security initiatives spearheaded by Border Czar Tom Homan. Below is a comprehensive summary capturing all key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode.

1. Unveiling Biden’s "Politburo" and Media Cover-Up

Allegations of a Hidden Power Structure

The episode opens with Georgia Howe highlighting explosive allegations about the true power dynamics during Joe Biden's presidency:

Georgia Howe [00:04]: "Explosive new allegations about who was really running the country during Joe Biden's presidency are shaking up Washington."

John Bickley follows up by questioning the legacy media’s role in these developments:

John Bickley [00:10]: "Is the legacy media still covering up the COVID up?"

Cabot Phillips on Media’s Role

Cabot Phillips emphasizes the critical role of the media in holding power accountable:

Cabot Phillips [00:14]: "That is why the fourth estate, the media is so important because its job is to look at the natural way that power operates and to hold power to account."

Introduction to the Politburo Concept

John Bickley introduces the concept of Biden's "politburo" based on revelations from the new book Original Sin by CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios's Alex Thompson:

John Bickley [00:39]: "Porter czar Tom Homan gives us a sneak peek into his deportation plans and how ICE will handle hostile sanctuary cities."

Detailed Insights from Original Sin

Cabot Phillips, alongside Bhatia Ungar Sargon, delves into the contents of Original Sin, unveiling a group of Biden’s top advisors exerting significant influence:

Bhatia Ungar Sargon [02:15]: "On Tuesday, the authors of the new bombshell book Original Sin, CNN's Jake Tapper and Axios Alex Thompson revealed the existence of what they called a politburo of longtime consiglieres or advisors of Biden who were heavily influencing everything he did."

Key Figures Identified

Jake Tapper details the key members of this politburo:

Jake Tapper [02:39]: "The people that we're naming would be Mike Donilon. Steve Richetti. Mike Donilon's his top political advisor. Steve Richetti is his top legislative advisor... Annie Thomasini... and Anthony Bernal... who was the top aide and enforcer for First Lady Jill Biden."

Staged Town Hall Controversy

The episode further reveals Biden's 2024 election team orchestrating a staged town hall, which backfired due to Biden's apparent inability to communicate effectively:

Bhatia Ungar Sargon [03:35]: "According to reporting in that new book, the 90 Minute Event was a disaster with Biden unable to string together any coherent answers... the campaign never aired any of that footage, flushing millions of dollars down the drain."

2. Biden’s Cognitive Decline and Media Complicity

Assertions of Cognitive Decline

Cabot Phillips addresses concerns regarding President Biden's mental fitness:

Cabot Phillips [04:12]: "I think what we see on stage with Joe Biden, Jake, is very clearly a cognitive decline. That's what I'm referring to. It makes me uncomfortable."

Jake Tapper confronts these assertions, leading to a contentious exchange:

Jake Tapper [05:01]: "I think you were mocking his stutter and I think you have absolutely no standing to diagnose somebody's cognitive decline."

Shift in Media Stance

Tapper later concedes that conservative media had valid points regarding Biden's mental state:

Bhatia Ungar Sargon [05:15]: "Tapper has since admitted that conservatives were right all along to question Biden's mental fitness... the conservative media was correct..."

Legacy Media's Minimal Coverage

Despite these revelations, Cabot Phillips points out the limited coverage by major media outlets:

Bhatia Ungar Sargon [06:20]: "the Media Research center found that from May 13th to the 19th, ABC, CBS and NBC spent just seven minutes combined talking about this bombshell story."

3. Supreme Court Ruling on Maine’s Transgender Policies

Background on Laurel Libby’s Censure

Georgia Howe introduces the case of Maine Republican Laurel Libby, who was censured by Democrats for her stance on transgender policies:

Georgia Howe [10:36]: "The U.S. supreme Court has sided with a Maine Republican after she was punished by Democrats for drawing attention to controversial transgender policies in the state."

Details of the Supreme Court Decision

Cabot Phillips elaborates on the Supreme Court's unanimous decision to allow Libby to retain her voting rights during the legal battle:

Cabot Phillips [12:04]: "They said that she can vote while this legal battle plays out. There were only two dissents as well. Those came from liberal Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor..."

Libby’s Optimism for the Case Outcome

Representative Libby expresses hope and optimism following the Supreme Court's decision:

Laurel Libby [12:25]: "I am outright optimistic now... that we will prevail on the merits of this case."

Ongoing Battle Over Transgender Policies in Maine

The episode discusses the broader implications of this case, highlighting the conflict between federal directives and Maine's state policies:

Cabot Phillips [13:48]: "We still have the Trump administration battling the state's Democrat governor, Janet Mills, over her decision to defy federal law and Trump's executive orders..."

4. Tom Homan’s Strategy on Sanctuary Cities and Border Security

Introduction to Tom Homan’s Immigration Agenda

John Bickley introduces a segment with Tom Homan, Border Czar, discussing the necessity of Trump's budget bill for immigration purposes:

John Bickley [07:26]: "Tom Homan is calling for the passage of Trump's budget bill, which he says is crucial to carrying out the president's immigration agenda."

Interview Highlights on Deportation Plans

In an interview with Laurel Libby, Tom Homan outlines his plans to enhance ICE operations and secure the border:

Tom Homan [08:00]: "We need the money not just for the border, but interior enforcement operations... So we got to put more border wall up... ICE needs money. ICE is in the hole right now."

Strategies for Efficient Deportations

Homan details strategies to expedite deportations and prevent overcrowding in detention facilities:

Tom Homan [08:49]: "We'll have flights ready to go. It'll be very expedient, very efficient. So you'll see us hit the ground running. Day one."

Challenges with Sanctuary Cities

Discussing the inefficiencies caused by sanctuary cities, Homan explains the increased burden on ICE:

Tom Homan [09:14]: "Sanctuary cities make us less efficient... We'll send more agents in the communities... We're going to send many more agents on work site enforcement operations."

Appeal to Republican and Democratic Lawmakers

Homan urges lawmakers to support the budget bill, emphasizing the security benefits:

Tom Homan [10:03]: "There's no downside on a secure border... We should all be on the same page. So step up, get this done."

5. Conclusion and Forward Look

The episode wraps up with a recap of the day's major stories and a preview of upcoming segments:

Georgia Howe [14:45]: "Thanks for waking up with us. We'll be back tomorrow with more news you need to know."

Notable Quotes with Attribution and Timestamps:

• Georgia Howe [00:04]: "Explosive new allegations about who was really running the country during Joe Biden's presidency are shaking up Washington."

• Jake Tapper [02:39]: "Those are sort of the four. They were known as a politburo, gray hairs, poobas, and they were with him the most of anybody."

• Cabot Phillips [04:12]: "What we see on stage with Joe Biden... is very clearly a cognitive decline."

• Laurel Libby [12:25]: "I am outright optimistic now."

• Tom Homan [08:00]: "ICE needs money. ICE is in the hole right now."

Insights and Conclusions:

• Hidden Power Structures: The episode sheds light on the possibility of a concealed group exerting significant influence over President Biden, challenging the transparency of his administration.

• Media Complicity: There is a critical examination of the legacy media's role in potentially covering up or downplaying important issues related to the presidency and policy decisions.

• Judicial Support for Political Dissent: The Supreme Court's decision to side with Laurel Libby highlights ongoing tensions between state policies and federal oversight, especially concerning controversial social issues.

• Immigration and Border Security Priorities: Tom Homan’s interview underscores a strong push for increased funding and resources to enhance border security and streamline deportation processes, emphasizing bipartisan support for these measures.

This episode of Morning Wire provides listeners with a deep dive into the inner workings of the Biden administration, scrutinizes media accountability, and discusses pivotal legal and policy battles shaping the current political landscape.