Democratic Infighting Grows & Wisconsin’s Judicial Showdown | 3.24.25

Summary

Morning Wire Episode Summary: Democratic Infighting Grows & Wisconsin’s Judicial Showdown | 03.24.25

Release Date: March 24, 2025

Overview

In this episode of Morning Wire, Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley and co-host Georgia Howe delve into the escalating infighting within the Democratic Party and the high-stakes judicial race in Wisconsin. The discussion covers the widening rift between the party’s far-left and moderate factions, the implications of Wisconsin’s Supreme Court election on national politics, and President Trump’s aggressive immigration policies. Notable insights from political analysts and key figures are highlighted, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the current political landscape.

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Democratic Party Struggles

Polling Data and Constituent Anger

Georgia Howe opens the discussion by addressing the growing discontent among Democratic voters as the party grapples with internal divisions. Megan Basham highlights new polling data indicating a significant decline in Democratic popularity:

John Bickley [02:09]: "Trump's approval ratings have held steady around 48%. That's well above where he stood during his first term. And Democratic popularity has only plummeted since Election Day. Last week, CNN found that just 29% of Americans view the party favorably. That's a 20-point drop from 2021."

Furthermore, a Quinnipiac poll reveals an unprecedented low in Democratic approval:

John Bickley [02:09]: "A new Quinnipiac poll showed that just 21% of Americans approve of Democrats' job performance in Congress. That is the lowest mark in the history of the poll."

Specific Incidents Highlighting Internal Conflict

The episode details instances of friction within the Democratic ranks, particularly during debates over government shutdowns:

John Bickley [02:52]: "During the Democrat debate over whether to shut down the government, rank-and-file members wanted to kill the Republican spending bill and force a shutdown. However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer supported the deal to keep the lights on, resulting in backlash from prominent lawmakers like AOC and Nancy Pelosi."

The backlash was so intense that Schumer had to cancel his book tour due to security concerns, illustrating the depth of the discord.

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Strategies Within the Democratic Party

Far-Left Consolidation

Senior editor Cabot Phillips explains the first emerging strategy among Democrats:

John Bickley [04:10]: "There are those who say the party needs to listen to its far-left base and double down on their opposition to Trump, doing just everything possible to prevent his agenda from being implemented. In that camp are Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez."

This faction emphasizes a progressive agenda, exemplified by Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez's "Fighting Oligarchy Tour," which has attracted large crowds in cities like Tempe, Las Vegas, and Denver.

However, this approach faces challenges as the broader American electorate does not overwhelmingly support the far-left vision:

John Bickley [04:50]: "The problem for Democrats in that camp is that the far-left vision for America they're describing just doesn't seem all that popular with Americans right now."

Moderate Shift and Alliances with Conservatives

Conversely, another faction within the party advocates for moderating its stance to regain voter support:

John Bickley [05:14]: "Democrats who feel November's results were a clear rebuke of progressive ideologies and governance believe the party has to shake that 'woke' label and moderate on social issues while embracing a more old-school Blue Dog Democrat approach."

Ironically, this group includes progressive figures like California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has begun aligning with hardline conservatives. Newsom has launched a podcast featuring discussions with figures like Steve Bannon and Charlie Kirk, criticizing the party as elitist and out of touch.

Gallup polling reflects this division among Democratic voters:

John Bickley [06:02]: "The latest numbers from Gallup have 45% of Democrats wanting the party to become more moderate, 29% say more liberal, and 22% say hold the current course."

This split indicates a lack of consensus on the party’s future direction, complicating efforts to present a unified front.

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Wisconsin’s Judicial Showdown

Significance of the Race

The episode shifts focus to Wisconsin’s Supreme Court race, a pivotal contest with national ramifications. Co-host Georgia Howe introduces the topic:

Georgia Howe [07:07]: "That was Super Bowl champ Brett Favre endorsing the conservative candidate in an election that will determine whether liberals or conservatives control Wisconsin's top court, already the most expensive judicial race in US History."

Impact on Redistricting and National Policy

Cabot Phillips elaborates on the stakes involved:

Cabot Phillips [07:48]: "This is a rare chance to flip the ideological balance of the highest court in a key swing state. Depending on April 1st's outcome, Wisconsin Supreme Court could shift from a 4-3 liberal majority to a 4-3 conservative one, affecting national policy significantly."

One of the critical issues at stake is congressional redistricting. The outcome will influence whether Republican-drawn maps, which Democrats previously contested, are upheld or overturned again, potentially affecting the slim Republican majority in the House.

Endorsements and Campaign Dynamics

Brett Favre's endorsement of conservative candidate Brad Schimmel underscores the race's importance:

Brett Favre [07:07]: "This is as important as the November election. This is for the soul of Wisconsin. Your vote for Brad Schimmel will keep Wisconsin and America winning."

This endorsement highlights the race as a referendum on Donald Trump's presidency, with broader implications for issues like voter ID laws and immigration policies.

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Trump’s Immigration Policies and IRS-ICE Collaboration

Revoking Security Clearances

Tim Pierce reports on President Trump's aggressive moves against perceived adversaries:

Tim Pierce [10:59]: "President Trump officially revoked the security clearances of a number of people late Friday, including top Biden administration officials and prominent Republicans who opposed him, such as Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Letitia James, and Liz Cheney."

This action reflects Trump's retaliatory stance against those he views as obstructing his agenda.

IRS and ICE Collaboration on Immigration

The discussion then turns to the administration's efforts to bolster immigration enforcement through cooperation between the IRS and ICE:

Tim Pierce [11:41]: "The IRS and ICE are near an agreement that would allow immigration agents to cross-check information on aliens with IRS databases. While DHS would not have direct access to IRS systems, agents can verify the home addresses of illegal aliens, aiding in Trump’s deportation efforts."

This collaboration aims to enhance the effectiveness of deportations by leveraging taxpayer information without compromising IRS database security.

Rollback of the CHNV Parole Program

Further tightening immigration controls, Trump’s administration has dismantled the Biden-era CHNV parole program:

Tim Pierce [13:05]: "The CHNV parole program, which allowed 30,000 immigrants monthly from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela to apply for entry, has been terminated. DHS has revoked legal status for those who entered under the program, urging self-deportation within 30 days or face deportation."

This move significantly increases the number of individuals eligible for deportation, aligning with Trump's broader immigration enforcement strategy.

Bipartisan Support and Public Opinion

Interestingly, there is some cross-party support for Trump's immigration policies:

Tim Pierce [12:44]: "Senator Bernie Sanders has publicly supported Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration, stating that while comprehensive reform is needed, illegal border crossings are unacceptable."

This unexpected alignment underscores the complexity of immigration as a political issue.

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Notable Quotes

• John Bickley [02:09]: "Trump's approval ratings have held steady around 48%. That's well above where he stood during his first term."

• John Bickley [04:10]: "There are those who say the party needs to listen to its far-left base and double down on their opposition to Trump."

• Gavin Newsom [06:34]: "What's the secret behind wildly successful businesses? It's the unsung hero, the business behind the business."

• Brett Favre [07:07]: "This is as important as the November election. This is for the soul of Wisconsin. Your vote for Brad Schimmel will keep Wisconsin and America winning."

• Elon Musk [00:43]: "This is about preserving democracy in America and not having ridiculous districts drawn that effectively disenfranchise voters in Wisconsin."

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Conclusion

This episode of Morning Wire provides an in-depth analysis of the current fractures within the Democratic Party and the high-stakes judicial battle in Wisconsin. By examining polling data, internal strategies, and pivotal elections, John Bickley and Georgia Howe offer listeners a nuanced perspective on the evolving political dynamics. Additionally, the discussion on Trump’s stringent immigration policies and their broader implications underscores the administration's impact on national governance and public sentiment. As the episode concludes, listeners are left with a clear understanding of the challenges and critical events shaping the American political landscape.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

I'm gonna answer his question.

[Brandon]

I'm gonna answer his question.

[Georgia Howe]

Democrats find themselves facing angry voters as a massive rift opens up between the far left and more moderate members.

[Megan Basham]

Will the party's leadership consolidate or continue to splinter?

[Georgia Howe]

I'm Daily Wire editor in Chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Monday, March 24, and this is Morning. President Trump and Elon Musk draw national attention to what could prove to be a pivotal battle for control of Wisconsin's Supreme Court.

[Elon Musk]

This is about preserving democracy in America and not having ridiculous districts drawn that effectively disenfranchise voters in Wisconsin.

[Megan Basham]

And Trump says access denied to a number of Biden allies while ICE and the IRS prepare to team up.

[Georgia Howe]

Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know Foreign.

[Brandon]

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[Megan Basham]

Democrat lawmakers have found themselves confronted by angry constituents as the party searches for a unifying message. Meanwhile, new polling shows Democrats continue to be less popular than ever before.

[Georgia Howe]

Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips is here to discuss the brewing intraparty conflict and how voters are responding to it. Hey, Gabbit, let's start with those numbers. What do they tell us about how Americans feel about the current political situation?

[John Bickley]

So, historically, there's often a sort of buyer's remorse with voters, but that has not happened this year. Trump's approval ratings have held steady around 48%. That's well above where he stood during his first term. And Democratic popularity has only plummeted since Election Day. Last week, CNN found that just 29% of Americans view the party favorably. That's a 20 point drop from 2021. And over the weekend, things got even worse. A new Quinnipiac poll showed that just 21% of Americans approve of Democrats job performance in Congress. That is the lowest mark in the history of the poll. And even more concerning for the left, only 40% of Democrats approve of the job their leaders are doing in Congress.

[Georgia Howe]

And That's where the infighting comes in.

[John Bickley]

Exactly. The best example came last week during the Democrat debate over whether to shut down the government. Rank and file members in Congress wanted to kill the Republican spending bill and, you know, stick it to Trump, forcing a shutdown. But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, arguably the most powerful Democrat in the country, opted to support the deal and keep the lights on. That resulted in a wave of backlash from prominent Democrat lawmakers like AOC and Nancy Pelosi, and importantly, from voters. To give you an idea of their anger, Schumer had to cancel his upcoming book tour, quote, due to security concerns. And now that anger has been evident at town halls across the country. For example, here's the message from one voter at a rowdy town hall for Arizona Democrats Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego.

[Brandon]

We're not willing to get in the mud with them. Maybe it's time we start getting a little bit dirtier with our messaging.

[John Bickley]

Here's another raucous event for Democrat House member Sean Kastin, which had to be shut down by police after angry protesters attempted to rush the stage.

[Tim Pierce]

What you're saying is, I'm not gonna get my way when my people are.

[Georgia Howe]

Being spotted, and I want you to.

[John Bickley]

Stop fund if you would like to.

[Georgia Howe]

Run for office, run for office.

[John Bickley]

That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

[Tim Pierce]

You are the most soulless piece of.

[Brandon]

Crap I've ever seen.

[Georgia Howe]

So how are Democrat lawmakers responding to this anger coming from within their own party, their own voters?

[John Bickley]

Well, there seem to be two main strategies emerging. First, there are those who say the party needs to listen to its far left base and double down on their opposition to Trump, doing just everything possible to prevent his agenda from being implemented. In that camp are Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, who kicked off their, quote, Fighting Oligarchy tour last week, hitting Tempe, Las Vegas and Denver in recent days and drawing crowds in the tens of thousands.

[Brett Favre]

We're gonna take on their effort to move us to an authoritarian society, but we have got to ourselves have a vision for the kind of country we want to become.

[John Bickley]

But the problem for Democrats in that camp is that the far left vision for America they're describing just doesn't seem all that popular with Americans right now. Remember, polling shows that Americans are still widely supportive of Trump's policies on legal immigration, foreign policy, transgenderism, and dei.

[Georgia Howe]

Right. He's really maintaining strong support for that. So the progressive wing is fighting to go further left. What is the other faction calling for.

[John Bickley]

So on the other side are Democrats who feel November's results were a clear rebuke of progressive ideologies and governance. They say the party has to shake that woke label and moderate on social issues while embracing a more old school blue dog Democrat approach. Leading the charge on that front is, ironically, California's Gavin Newsom, one of the nation's most far left governors. He launched a new podcast where he's been having very friendly chats with hardline conservatives like Steve Bannon and Charlie Kirk. He's openly criticized his party as being elitist and out of touch, while conceding that he understands why folks supported Trump in November. He even went as far as saying he opposes trans identifying males in women's sports and called on Democrats to stop using gender neutral language like Latinx, though he himself has used that term many times in the past.

[Georgia Howe]

Right.

[John Bickley]

And it's worth noting polling continues to show a real split on which strategy voters want. The latest numbers from Gallup have 45% of Democrats wanting the party to become more moderate, 29% say more liberal, and 22% say hold the current course. So Democratic voters are just as divided as their leaders on how to approach these next four years. And in the meantime, the infighting continues.

[Georgia Howe]

And it's hard to see how these two sides end up aligning anytime soon. Kevin, thanks for reporting.

[John Bickley]

Anytime.

[Gavin Newsom]

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[Brett Favre]

This is as important as the November election. And that was for the soul of America. This is for the soul of Wisconsin. Your vote for Brad Schemmel will keep Wisconsin and America winning.

[Georgia Howe]

That was super bowl champ Brett Favre endorsing the conservative candidate in an election that will determine whether liberals or conservatives control Wisconsin's top court, already the most expensive judicial race in US History. Analysts are calling it the first referendum on Donald Trump's presidency.

[Megan Basham]

Here with more is Daily Wire Culture reporter Megan Basham. So, Megan, you don't typically see a single state judicial race garner this much national attention. What's so significant about this seat?

[Cabot Phillips]

Well, it's because this is a rare chance to flip the ideological balance of the highest court in a key swing state. So, depending on how things play out on April 1st, Wisconsin Supreme Court could go from a 4:3 liberal majority to a 4:3 conservative one. And that will, of course, have a lot of ramifications on national policy. Arguably, the biggest factor here is congressional redistricting. So after the 2020 census, Republicans who controlled the legislature drew Wisconsin's congressional maps. Democrats cried gerrymandering, and they sued. And then in 2022, the liberal court threw out the GOP's maps and adopted new ones that had been drawn by Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat. And that new map helped Democrats flip one congressional seat in 2024. So if conservative candidate Brad Schimmel wins, he will likely uphold those GOP drawn maps that help cement the very slim margin that Republicans have in the House right now. On the other hand, if liberal Susan Crawford wins, the court is likely to strike down those Republican maps again, meaning Democrats will have a greater likelihood of winning more seats in the state.

[Megan Basham]

Now, I imagine this court could also impact the GOP's chances of taking the state in the presidential election as well.

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah, absolutely. And election integrity legislation like voter ID has also been a very big focus here. We have to remember that Trump won Wisconsin in 2024 by less than a percentage point. So these were the issues that Elon Musk stressed during an X space late Saturday night.

[Elon Musk]

In my opinion, that's the most important thing, which is a big deal given that the congressional majority is so razor thin. It could cause the House to switch to Democrat if that redrawing takes place, and then we won't be able to get through the changes that the American people want.

[Cabot Phillips]

Republicans also see a conservative court in Wisconsin as a potential firewall that could shield Trump's policies from state level challenges. Think things like lawsuits over federal overreach or immigration crackdowns. So, on Truth Social yesterday, Trump called Crawford a radical left Democrat. And he said she's insistent on bringing hardened criminals that we remove to faraway places back into our country and allowing men into women's sports and open borders. Quoting there, of course. And then pro lifers are closely watching this race as well as Crawford has made protecting access to abortion a major part of her pitch to voters.

[Megan Basham]

Well, this election is on Tuesday, April 1, so we're going to have you back on to discuss the results. Megan, thanks for reporting.

[Cabot Phillips]

Anytime.

[Megan Basham]

Immigration authorities may soon receive help from the irs. Reports of the new agreement come as thousands of law enforcement officials are expected to be redirected toward President Trump's mass deportation agenda.

[Georgia Howe]

Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce is here to talk about the administration's new tactics on immigration. Hey, Tim. So, before we get to immigration, I actually wanted to talk about a story you reported on over the weekend. Trump's actions on security clearances, those revoked for a number of high profile public officials. The most high profile. What exactly happened there? Right.

[Tim Pierce]

President Trump officially revoked the security clearances of a number of people late Friday. That included top Biden administration officials, as well as some of the president's top antagonists, those who brought and supported the court cases he faced during the election and who pushed Russian collusion conspiracies. Some of the most prominent names on that list included Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, New York Attorney General Letitia James, Liz Cheney, and over a dozen others. It's worth noting that Biden blocked Trump from intelligence briefings back in 2021.

[John Bickley]

Right.

[Georgia Howe]

A what goes around comes around situation here. Yeah. So, on to the issue of immigration. The IRS is reportedly near an agreement to help Homeland Security locate illegal aliens. How will that work?

[Tim Pierce]

The IRS and ICE are near an agreement that would essentially allow immigration agents to cross check information on aliens with IRS databases. That's according to the New York Times. To be clear, DHS would not have access to IRS systems, but agents would be able to verify with the IRS whether the home addresses agents have for illegal aliens are correct. The Trump administration has tried before to get the IRS to help locate illegals, but the agency has always resisted because of the sensitivity of taxpayer information and because it didn't want to run afoul of federal law. But this way, the IRS can keep complete control over its taxpayer database.

[Georgia Howe]

Got it. How much will this help Trump's deportation efforts?

[Tim Pierce]

It should be a useful tool for ice. Illegal immigrants often do work in the US and file tax returns that include information such as where they live, who they work for, and their income. There's some pushback against this, but it's worth pointing out that while Democrats don't agree with Trump's immigration agenda, the president is picking up a little bit of support across the aisle. For instance, here's Senator Bernie Sanders on ABC saying Trump is right to shut down illegal immigration.

[Georgia Howe]

Is there anything that you think Trump has done? Right.

[Brett Favre]

Yeah. I mean, I think cracking down on fentanyl, making sure our borders are stronger. Look, nobody thinks illegal immigration is appropriate, and I happen to think we need comprehensive immigration reform, but I don't think that it's appropriate for people to be coming across the border illegally.

[Tim Pierce]

According to Reuters, the Department of Homeland Security is in the middle of a massive reshuffle to focus resources on deportations. It's like what the Biden administration did for January 6, taking a bunch of agents off their usual beats to investigate alleged rioters. Trump has taken that strategy and is using it to carry out his deportations.

[Georgia Howe]

Really a story of two very different priorities there. And now there's news that Trump will roll back Biden's use of parole to allow aliens into the country. What's the latest there?

[Tim Pierce]

Right, the parole program you referenced was started under Biden and applied to aliens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The CHNV parole program, as it was called, let 30,000 immigrants a month from those countries apply for entry to the US and since 2022, over half a million entered the country, sometimes on flights set up by the federal government. Trump ended that program on his first day in office. But over the weekend, DHS issued an order revoking legal status for those aliens who entered the country. Through it, the order encourages them to self deport within 30 days or risk deportation.

[Georgia Howe]

Sounds like there's going to be a lot more people eligible for deportation in the next few weeks. Tim, thanks so much for reporting.

[Tim Pierce]

Good to be on.

[Megan Basham]

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

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