Morning Wire – "Davos Gets Trumped & Jack Smith Faces Congress"

Date: January 22, 2026 | Hosts: Georgia Howe & John Bickley

Episode Overview

This episode centers on three major political headlines: President Trump’s confrontational appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, his renewed push to acquire Greenland, the resulting diplomatic fallout, and the evolving situation in Minnesota politics with Michelle Tafoya’s Senate bid amid corruption scandals. It closes with Special Counsel Jack Smith’s testimony before Congress about his Trump investigation, including explosive new allegations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Davos Speech & Greenland Push

Guest: Cabot Phillips (Daily Wire Senior Editor)

• Trump’s Approach in Davos

  • Trump challenged European leaders’ consensus, pushing "America First" and denouncing globalism.
  • Emphasized U.S. interests above multinational cooperation typically advocated at Davos.
  • Criticized Europe’s commitment to mass migration and green energy, arguing it made the continent vulnerable to Russia and China.
  • [03:38] Trump:

    “In recent decades, it became conventional wisdom in Washington and European capitals that the only way to grow a modern Western economy was through ever increasing government spending, unchecked mass migration, and endless foreign imports. Quite frankly, many parts of our world are being destroyed before our very eyes, and the leaders don’t even understand what’s happening. And the ones that do understand aren’t doing anything about it.”

• Greenland Diplomatic Gambit

  • Trump reaffirmed his pursuit of acquiring Greenland, claiming it would benefit NATO and the U.S.

  • NATO allies conducted joint military drills in Greenland, signaling resistance.

  • He clarified the U.S. would not use force but asserted only America could secure Greenland.

  • Announced a possible framework agreement after productive talks with NATO Secretary General.

  • Repealed a threatened 10% tariff on eight EU nations, touting a "great deal" for the U.S. and NATO.

  • [05:20] Trump:

    “We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force where we would be, frankly, unstoppable. But I won’t do that. Okay, now everyone’s saying, oh, good, I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force. I won’t use force.”

  • [05:45] Trump:

    “Every NATO ally has an obligation to be able to defend their own territory. And the fact is, no nation or group of nations is in any position to be able to secure Greenland other than the United States. And that’s the reason I’m seeking immediate negotiations to once again discuss the acquisition of Greenland by the United States.”

• Strategic Implications

  • The episode frames Trump’s actions as both a challenge to European unity and a demonstration of America’s leverage on the global stage.

2. Minnesota Politics: Michelle Tafoya’s Senate Run

Interviewee: Michelle Tafoya (Former NFL Reporter, Republican Senate Candidate)

• Context of Her Candidacy

  • Tafoya cites Minnesota’s "crisis of leadership," surging crime, falling test scores, and taxpayer fraud.
  • Positions herself as advocating for common sense and restoring integrity across party lines.
  • [08:30] Tafoya:

    “I’ve lived here for over 30 years, raised my family here and I know the Minnesota that I moved into. And what I see now as a Minnesota in decline. Crime is up, test scores are down, we’ve got the fraud, we’ve got this landscape of violence toward law enforcement. And really that crisis of leadership doesn’t come down to right versus left really. It’s right versus wrong.”

• Views on State Leadership & Investigations

  • Criticizes Governor Walz, AG Keith Ellison, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Fry for rhetoric and policy choices she believes fostered lawlessness and poisoned discourse on law enforcement.
  • Supports ongoing federal investigations into state-level corruption, arguing they are justified.
  • Points to specific failures, like the case of Renee Goode’s death and Sanctuary City policies impeding police.

• Welfare Fraud Scandal

  • Highlights $9+ billion in alleged fraud — funds meant for children repurposed by criminals.
  • Argues governor’s political withdrawal is proof the crisis is "unelectable" and demands systemic change.
  • [11:37] Tafoya:

    “We’re talking about, like you said, upwards of $9 billion of taxpayer money that was supposed to go to children and it went to these criminals instead. So they could buy lakefront property or expensive watches or, you know, lavish vacations that should make every Minnesotan sick to their stomach.”

3. Jack Smith Faces Congress

Guest: Tim Pierce (Daily Wire Reporter)
Key Lawmaker: Jim Jordan (House Judiciary Committee Chair)

• Smith’s Testimony and Allegations

  • Special Counsel Jack Smith summoned to address his investigation tactics into Trump.
  • Focus on his use of confidential informants and phone record subpoenas targeting GOP legislators.
  • Trump himself offered harsh, off-the-cuff critiques of Smith and other prosecutors.
  • [13:42] Trump:

    “A sick son of a — they gave me the worst of the worst and here I am. How did that happen? How did that happen? He’s a sick guy and Letitia James is sick and Alvin Bragg is sick. They’re sick people.”

• Confidential Sources & Payments

  • Republicans focus on Smith allegedly paying confidential sources, questioning the necessity and legality.
  • [14:45] Jim Jordan:

    “The fact that Jack Smith had paid with your tax money, your viewers and listeners, tax money, had paid money to a confidential human source. One payment we know of, $20,000. How many more payments were there?...You can subpoena anybody. You can go get the phone records of members of Congress, but you got to pay a confidential human source in your quest...to try to put the president in prison. So I’m sure that will come up today.”

• Framing the Narrative

  • Jordan and GOP hosts argue Smith is part of a decade-long, politically motivated campaign to stop Trump.

  • [15:46] Jim Jordan:

    “Jack Smith was no different than Fani Willis and Alvin Bragg and the impeachment against President Trump, the impeachments and Bob Mueller, it was all driven by politics. It was all designed to stop President Trump from having we the people make him president twice now.”

  • Any formal accountability for Smith, Jordan concedes, would need to come through DOJ — not Congress.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Trump on Globalism:
  [03:38] “Quite frankly, many parts of our world are being destroyed before our very eyes, and the leaders don’t even understand what’s happening.”

• Trump on Greenland:
  [05:20] “But I won’t do that. Okay, now everyone’s saying, oh, good, I don’t have to use force. I don’t want to use force.”

• Michelle Tafoya on MN Leadership:
  [08:30] “This crisis of leadership doesn’t come down to right versus left really. It’s right versus wrong.”

• Trump’s Insult of Prosecutors:
  [13:42] “A sick son of a — they gave me the worst of the worst...He’s a sick guy and Letitia James is sick and Alvin Bragg is sick. They’re sick people.”

• Jim Jordan on Smith’s Payments:
  [14:45] “The fact that Jack Smith had paid with your tax money...had paid money to a confidential human source. One payment we know of, $20,000. How many more payments were there?”

Timeline of Key Segments

• [00:42] — Trump Takes Davos by Storm: Show intro, teaser of Trump's Greenland remarks.
• [02:27] — Detailed Davos Breakdown (Cabot Phillips)
• [04:45] — Greenland Q&A & Fallout
• [08:00] — Michelle Tafoya Interview
• [13:01] — Jack Smith Faces Congress (Tim Pierce & Jim Jordan insights)
• [16:24] — Summary and Wrap-up

Overall Tone & Style

The episode’s tone is combative and direct, reflecting both Trump’s rhetoric and The Daily Wire’s editorial slant. Hosts push for accountability in government, challenge media/establishment consensus, and blend political analysis with pointed criticism.

Useful for Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This comprehensive summary covers the core topics, context, and key statements from all major segments of this Morning Wire episode, making it easy to grasp the latest in U.S. political drama, international maneuvering, and statehouse turmoil—even if you missed the broadcast.