DC Plane, Helicopter Collide & RFK’s High Stakes Hearing | 1.30.25

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary Episode: DC Plane, Helicopter Collide & RFK’s High Stakes Hearing | 1.30.25
Release Date: January 30, 2025
Hosts: John Bickley and Georgia Howe
Presented by: The Daily Wire

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1. Tragic Collision Near Reagan National Airport

Incident Overview

The episode opens with a harrowing account of a tragic midair collision near Reagan National Airport involving a passenger jet and a military helicopter. Georgia Howe describes the immediate aftermath:

“[00:02] Georgia Howe: Tragedy strikes at Reagan National Airport as a passenger jet collides with a military helicopter. I just saw a fireball and then.”

John Bickley adds:

“[00:10] John Bickley: It was just gone. I haven't seen anything since they hit the river, but it was a CRJ.”

Details of the Crash

Tim Pierce provides an in-depth report on the incident:

“[02:14] Tim Pierce: The collision occurred last night around 9 PM Eastern Time involving American Airlines Flight 5342, a Bombardier CRJ7000 with 64 people aboard, and a Blackhawk helicopter with three crew members. The plane was descending to Reagan National when the collision sent it into the Potomac River, triggering a mass casualty event and grounding all flights at the airport.”

Rescue Operations

The podcast details the extensive rescue efforts initiated post-crash:

“[02:14] Tim Pierce: A massive search and rescue operation was launched, deploying 100 ambulances and boats to the Potomac. NBC Washington reported that the water temperature was approximately 37 degrees, posing severe hypothermia risks within 15 to 20 minutes of exposure.”

Georgia Howe emphasizes the dire circumstances:

“[04:03] Georgia Howe: Crash landing in freezing water in the dark is just an absolute nightmare. What do we know about the rescue effort?”

Tim Pierce responds:

“[04:10] Tim Pierce: Hundreds of first responders, including police, fire departments, and fireboats, were mobilized to search for survivors. Kansas Senator Roger Marshall, whose flight originated from Wichita, Kansas, called for prayers for the victims and responders.”

Investigative Insights

Aviation expert Pete Montine shares his astonishment and concerns:

“[04:56] Pete Montine: This midair collision is staggering, especially with modern commercial airliners equipped with Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS). It highlights significant gaps in aviation safety that investigators must address.”

Montine predicts lasting changes in aviation safety protocols:

“[06:14] Pete Montine: The fact that this happened near one of the busiest airspaces in the country is incredible and suggests a need for an overhaul in current collision prevention systems.”

2. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Contentious Confirmation Hearing

Hearing Overview

Cabot Phillips reports on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s challenging first day during his confirmation hearings for Secretary of Health and Human Services:

“[06:39] Cabot Phillips: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before the Senate Finance Committee, marking a significant moment as he transitions from a Democratic presidential candidate to a Trump-appointed nominee.”

Pushback and Support

Kennedy faces intense scrutiny from Democratic senators, particularly regarding his stance on vaccines and his political affiliations. Notable exchanges include:

“[08:26] Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: You’re not going to take money from drug companies...”

“[08:37] Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: That’s not the question you and I. You are asking me not to sue vaccine pharmaceutical companies.”

Despite fierce opposition, Kennedy receives support from notable figures:

“[08:50] Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: All these Democrats are opposed to me for partisan issues...”

“[09:13] Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: Now, despite his lifelong status as a Democrat, Kennedy has grown enormously popular with GOP voters.”

Policy Stances and Challenges

Kennedy addresses his policies on vaccines and abortion, aligning with Trump's administration while maintaining personal beliefs:

“[10:01] Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy. ... I will implement those policies.”

Despite his personal stance, he commits to supporting the administration's policies if confirmed.

Future Hearings and Expectations

The podcast outlines the anticipated challenges in Kennedy's confirmation process:

“[10:35] Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: Gabbard faces a very tough road... FBI nominee Cash Patel does look to have a clearer path...”

Georgia Howe previews the live coverage:

“[11:24] Georgia Howe: You can watch them on Daily Wire's YouTube or X accounts or on the Daily Wire app.”

3. Trump’s Executive Order on Transgender Medical Support for Minors

Order Details and Implementation

Cabot Phillips introduces the discussion on Trump's executive order banning federal support for transgender drugs and surgeries for minors, with investigative reporter Mairead Elordi providing comprehensive insights:

“[12:04] Mairead Elordi: Trump's order prohibits federal funding for what it terms the 'transition of a child from one sex to another' and mandates the cessation of transgender medical procedures in federally funded institutions.”

Elordi elaborates on enforcement measures:

“[12:38] Mairead Elordi: Institutions receiving federal funds must halt transgender medical interventions for minors. The order also seeks to reduce Medicare and Medicaid funding for providers offering these services and initiates legal avenues for parents to sue medical professionals.”

Cultural Shift and Daily Wire’s Role

Elordi outlines the cultural momentum that led to the order, highlighting the Daily Wire's influential role:

“[13:46] Mairead Elordi: The Daily Wire has been at the forefront, from Ben Shapiro’s early debates to Matt Walsh’s exposés, significantly shaping public discourse and policy on transgender issues.”

She cites specific instances where the Daily Wire’s investigative work spurred legislative action:

“[14:03] Mairead Elordi: Our 2021 investigation into Loudoun County Public Schools and the 2023 documentary 'What Is a Woman?' have been pivotal in driving legislative change.”

Impact on Political Landscape

The executive order is portrayed as a decisive policy reversal from the previous administration, influencing voter sentiment:

“[15:03] Mairead Elordi: This issue was crucial in Trump’s campaign, garnering significant support by addressing concerns over women’s sports and locker room privacy.”

Cabot Phillips reflects on the policy shift:

“[15:30] Cabot Phillips: Truly remarkable change in policy we're seeing from the Trump administration. We'll be watching what steps Republicans now take in Congress on this issue in the coming weeks.”

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Conclusion

In this episode of Morning Wire, hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe navigate through a spectrum of pressing national issues. From the immediate response to a devastating midair collision near one of the nation's busiest airports to the high-stakes political maneuvers surrounding Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s confirmation hearings, the podcast provides a comprehensive overview of events shaping January 30, 2025. Additionally, the discussion on Trump's stringent executive order against transgender medical procedures for minors underscores a significant cultural and political shift, highlighting the Daily Wire's influential role in these developments. Notable quotes throughout the episode offer firsthand insights and emphasize the gravity of each topic discussed.

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For more detailed coverage and updates, listeners are encouraged to follow the Daily Wire’s live streams on YouTube, X, or through the Daily Wire app.

Transcript

[Georgia Howe]

Tragedy strikes at Reagan National Airport as a passenger jet collides with a military helicopter. I just saw a fireball and then.

[John Bickley]

It was just gone. I haven't seen anything since they hit the river, but it was a CRJ.

[Tim Pierce]

And a helicopter that hit.

[Cabot Phillips]

We discuss what we know so far about the search and rescue operation and the cause of the crash.

[Georgia Howe]

I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire Editor in Chief John Bickley. It's Thursday, January 30th, and this is Morning Wire. Robert Kennedy Jr. Is grilled by senators during his first day of confirmation hearings.

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

You're not going to take money from drug companies in any way, shape or form.

[John Bickley]

Who? Yes, you. Oh, yeah, I'm happy to commit to that. I don't think any of them want to give me money, by the way.

[Cabot Phillips]

And Trump signs an executive order ending all federal support for so called gender transitions for minors.

[Georgia Howe]

It's going to deincentivize so many doctors, so many agencies, so many families from.

[Mairead Elordi]

Doing this to their children.

[Georgia Howe]

Thanks for waking up with MORNING wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know.

[Brandon]

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[Cabot Phillips]

A passenger plane carrying at least 64 people collided with a helicopter last night near Reagan National Airport. The crash sent the plane plummeting into the Potomac and prompted a massive search and rescue operation.

[Georgia Howe]

Joining us with more on the horrific crash is Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce. So, Tim, a shocking and terrifying story. What do we know so far about this crash?

[Tim Pierce]

This is obviously a developing story with more details coming to light every minute. But as of this recording, what we know for sure is that the collision took place last night at about 9pm Eastern Time. The plane was American Airlines Flight 5342 and it collided with a Blackhawk helicopter over the Potomac river in D.C. the plane appears to have been approaching the airport preparing to land when it collided with the military helicopter within an hour. The incident was declared a mass casualty event and all flights were grounded at Reagan National Airport. The plane was a regional jet, a Bombardier CRJ7000, which left Wichita, Kansas at around 5:30pm local time. It was operated by PSA, a subsidiary of American Airlines. That model of plane generally carries 60 to 70 passengers. CNBC reports that this particular flight had 64 people on board, 60 passengers and four crew members. The helicopter it collided with had another three crew members or soldiers on board. The helicopter also had a gold top, which typically signifies a VIP or senior government official, but reports say no one like that was on board. President Trump released the following statement late last night. I have been fully briefed on the terrible accident which just took place at Reagan National Airport. May God bless their souls. Thank you for the incredible work being done by our first responders. I am monitoring the situation and will provide more details as they arise. Within minutes of the crash, a massive search and rescue operation was mounted, including 100ambulances and boats on the river because the plane landed in the water. That added another layer of urgency to the search and rescue operation. NBC Washington reported last night that the water temperature in the potomac was about 37 degrees and that hypothermia can begin to set in after 15 to 20 minutes of exposure to those conditions.

[Georgia Howe]

Crash landing in freezing water in the dark is just an absolute nightmare. What do we know about the rescue effort?

[Tim Pierce]

Well, the response was rapid and hundreds of first responders have been involved, along with police and fire departments on land. Fireboats were deployed in the water. There's been every effort to try to find any possible survivors. Kansas Senator Roger Marshall was on the scene last night and he put out a statement asking for prayers for the victims, the emergency responders, and for his state as again, the flight originated from Wichita.

[Georgia Howe]

From what we've learned so far, do we know how this happened?

[Tim Pierce]

That's what investigators will have to find out. Modern commercial airliners are equipped with technology that is supposed to prevent exactly the sort of situation it even has experts surprised even. Here's CNN's aviation correspondent Pete Montine, himself a private pilot and instructor.

[Pete Montine]

I'm stumbling over my words here because this is just so staggering that there is a midair collision involving a commercial airliner. Commercial flights are equipped for ages with a system called tcas, Traffic Collision Avoidance System. It tells the pilots in the cockpit how to avoid other airplanes nearby. It tells the pilots, there's traffic ahead of you. Climb. Climb now. Descend. Descend now. This would be an incredible lining up of the holes in the Swiss cheese which is the saying in aviation, the gaps in the safety chain in aviation that this happened. And now investigators have an incredible amount of work cut out for them to figure out how a commercial airliner in the United States in 2025, when the pilots are incredibly trained, the technology is incredibly sharp, collided with what is apparently a military or government helicopter nobody else uses, the Black Hawk. It is really something else. I, I'm just stunned.

[Tim Pierce]

Montine also said that this accident will change aviation.

[Pete Montine]

The fact that this happened in D.C. over near Reagan National Airport, some of the busiest airspace in the country and one of the single busiest runways in the national airspace system is really pretty incredible.

[Tim Pierce]

So still a lot of questions to be answered here.

[Georgia Howe]

Indeed. And we will, of course, be monitoring the story closely and giving updates as more details come out. Tim, thanks for reporting.

[Tim Pierce]

Of course.

[Cabot Phillips]

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Appeared before the Senate yesterday for a high stakes and contentious confirmation hearing.

[Georgia Howe]

Here with the details on the RFK confirmation bid and other hearings that will kick off this morning is Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips. So, Cabot, some big names in the Senate today, namely RFK Round 2. What can you tell us?

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

Yeah, so far, Trump has gotten six nominees through, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. But now come a few nominees who are going to have a tougher time getting across the finish line. Cash Patel, who's up for FBI Director, Tulsi Gabbard for director of National Intelligence. And the big one, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Trump's pick for secretary of Health and Human Services.

[Georgia Howe]

So let's start with Kennedy. He got things going yesterday, right?

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

So Kennedy appeared before the Senate Finance Committee for step one of his confirmation. And it really marked the culmination of a remarkable turnaround for someone who two years ago was running for president as a Democrat. If confirmed, he would be the first HHS secretary in history to not share the party of the president who appointed them. But again, that is a big if. Kennedy has arguably the toughest path to confirmation of any nominee for a few reasons. Democrats have turned on him for his vocal support of Trump, his skepticism on vaccines and his criticism of party leadership over the last decade, among many other things. For example, Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse said Kennedy, quote, frightens people, while Senator Bernie Sanders took issue with a series of baby onesies sold by an organization Kennedy used to work with.

[John Bickley]

One of them is titled Unfaxed, Unafraid. Next one is no vax, no problem. Now you're coming before this committee and you say you are pro vaccine and.

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

To give you an idea of how heated things got. Here's a brief exchange between Senator Elizabeth Warren and Kennedy on the topic of legal protections for vaccine manufacturers.

[John Bickley]

I'll comply with all the ethical guidelines.

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

That's not the question you and I.

[John Bickley]

You have. You're asking me, Senator, you're asking me not to sue vaccine pharmaceutical companies, Mike. Yeah, you are. That's exactly what you're doing.

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

But Kennedy did have plenty of supporters in the room, including his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, and conservative host Megyn Kelly. It was a raucous crowd at times as the audience burst into applause following a number of his responses to Democrat questioning. For his part, Kennedy said much of the opposition coming from the left stems from Democrats hatred of Donald Trump and anyone associated with him.

[John Bickley]

All these Democrats are opposed to me for partisan issues. They used to be my friends. Now they're against me. Because anything that President Trump does, any decision he makes, has to be lampooned, derided, discredited, marginalized, vilified.

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

Now, despite his lifelong status as a Democrat, Kennedy has grown enormously popular with GOP voters. Polling shows he has some of the highest favorability ratings of any Trump Cabinet nominee. And his crusade to, quote, make America healthy again has been gaining a lot of steam on the right. But there were still some who displayed some doubts about his standing, particularly on abortion. Kennedy is personally pro abortion, but says he'll support the Trump administration's position if confirmed and that he would study the effects of mifepristone, the most widely used abortion pill.

[John Bickley]

I agree with President Trump that every abortion is a tragedy. I agree with him that we cannot be a moral nation if we have 1.2 million abortions a year. I agree with him that the states should control abortion. President Trump has asked me to study the safety of mifepristone. He has not yet taken a stand on how to regulate it. Whatever he does, I will implement those policies.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, Kennedy is going to sit for another hearing today. We're also going to hear from Gabbard and Patel. What can we expect from those hearings?

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

Well, they are almost certainly going to be just as contentious. Gabbard faces a very tough road to confirmation in order to even get to the Senate floor for a vote. She's got a first win majority approval from the Intel Committee, and that is no sure thing. Republicans hold a 98 advantage on that committee. But one of those nine is Susan Collins, who has already voted no on Pete Heck's death. So we'll be watching very closely to see how she reacts to Gabbard's testimony. For his part, FBI nominee Cash Patel does look to have a clearer path to confirmation, but we certainly expect to see some fireworks. Over the last few years, he's been one of the most vocal, staunchest critics of the FBI. He's vowed to slash thousands of positions that he says are unnecessary, much to the chagrin of Democrats. So buckle up.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, three nominees that people are very excited about. Cabot, thanks for reporting.

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

Anytime.

[Georgia Howe]

Also, Cabot is going to be hosting the Daily Wire's live coverage of all three of those hearings starting at 9:30 Eastern. You can watch them on Daily Wire's YouTube or X accounts or on the Daily Wire app. This week, President Trump signed an executive order banning the federal government from funding or supporting transgender drugs or surgeries for children.

[Cabot Phillips]

Daily Wire investigative reporter Mourad Elordi is here now with more. Hey, Mairead. So this issue has been a major focal point of this show and our parent company, the Daily Wire. So we wanted to dig into this order in more depth here. First, tell us exactly what Trump signed on Tuesday.

[Mairead Elordi]

Hi, John. Sure. So Trump's order commits that the US Will not fund or support what it describes as the, quote, so called transition of a child from one sex to another. And it vows that the administration, quote, will rigorously enforce all laws that prohibit or limit these destructive and life altering procedures. The order says child transgender medical transitions are a dangerous trend that will be a stain on our nation's history and they must end now.

[Cabot Phillips]

So no equivocation, they're a full condemnation of these procedures.

[Mairead Elordi]

Right.

[Cabot Phillips]

And what does this mean in practice? How will this be enforced?

[Mairead Elordi]

Well, it means that any institution that receives federal funding like research or education grants, must end the transgender chemical and surgical mutilation of children, as the order puts it. This would be hospitals or medical schools. The order also aims to slash Medicare and Medicaid funding to health providers that offer transgender drugs and surgeries to children. And it also calls for legislation that would allow children and their parents to sue doctors who provided them with these drugs and surgeries. And it directs the attorney general to investigate transgender sanctuary states that try to strip custody from parents who oppose these medical interventions. The order also acknowledges rapid onset gender dysphoria. And it gives the Secretary of Health and Human Services, who would be RFK Jr. If he's confirmed, 90 days to review research and submit a report on how to best help children with gender dysphoria. Trump's order also gives federal agencies 60 days to report on their progress, which includes scrapping any policies that rely on the World Professional association for Transgender Health, which the order calls junk science.

[Cabot Phillips]

So we've noted that this is a massive reversal from the Biden administration's very much pro trans agenda. How did we get to this point?

[Mairead Elordi]

Well, it's taken a cultural shift and that's been driven by a lot of investigative work. And as you mentioned, we have to note that the Daily Wire, while certainly not alone in exposing this, often took the lead in several key ways. And I'd like to highlight a few of those moments. It's a pretty long list, so just bear with me here.

[Tim Pierce]

Sure.

[Mairead Elordi]

Ben Shapiro has been hitting this topic since the founding of the company. So some 10 years back in 2015, he debated a trans identifying man, Zoe Tur, telling him, quote, it's not rude to say that someone who is biologically a male is a male. That resulted in Tur threatening him physically and the exchange went viral. Then, as many of our listeners might remember, our 2021 investigation into the alleged cover up by Loudoun County Public Schools of a boy wearing a skirt sexually assaulting a 9th grade girl in a girl's bathroom alarmed parents and became a flashpoint in the national discussion. Matt Walsh has also been a major voice on this as well. He starred in the Daily Wire documentary what Is a Woman? Which really galvanized the criticism of gender ideology. Walsh also posted an expose on Vanderbilt University's Pediatric gender clinic offering these drugs and surgeries to children that prompted Tennessee lawmakers to ban them. That legislation is now before the Supreme Court.

[Cabot Phillips]

Now, polling shows that Trump actually ended up winning in part because of this trans issue, Correct?

[Mairead Elordi]

Right. This proved to be a crucial campaign issue that drew a lot of support for Trump. The trend of males encroaching on women's sports often came up, and that's something we've also highlighted on this show, where female athletes have been seriously injured by trans identifying male players or lost out on victories or felt violated sharing a locker room with male teammates. So again, we weren't alone. But the Daily Wire has approached this as an urgent issue that has needed to be exposed for what it is. And the tide appears to have turned now.

[John Bickley]

Yeah.

[Cabot Phillips]

Truly remarkable change in policy we're seeing from the Trump administration. We'll be watching what steps Republicans now take in Congress on this issue in the coming weeks. Marie, thanks so much for reporting.

[Mairead Elordi]

Thanks, John.

[Cabot Phillips]

Thanks for waking up with us. We'll be back this afternoon with more news. You need to know.