Democratic Party Divides & Trump Targets Houthis | 3.17.25

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary Episode: Democratic Party Divides & Trump Targets Houthis | 03.17.25

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Introduction

In the March 17, 2025, episode of Morning Wire, hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe delve into significant political turmoil within the Democratic Party, the Trump administration's aggressive foreign policy moves against the Houthis in Yemen, and the successful SpaceX mission that rescued astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS). This summary captures the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented throughout the episode.

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I. Democratic Party Divisions

A. Overview of the Rift

The episode opens with a discussion on the escalating tensions within the Democratic Party following a critical government funding decision. John Bickley states at [00:03] that "Democrats openly revolt against their party leadership after they joined the GOP in keeping the government funded." This move has sparked significant backlash from within the party.

B. Leadership Challenges and Public Backlash

Georgia Howe criticizes the party leadership's flip-flop, remarking at [00:09], "The fact that the leader said one thing and then within 24 hours didn't about face it, it just looked pathetic." This sentiment underscores the perceived lack of consistency and reliability among Democratic leaders.

C. Internal Struggles and Potential Consequences

Cabot Phillips prompts a discussion on the future implications for the Democratic Party, questioning, "What does this mean for the future of the Democratic Party?" at [00:18]. Tim Raisay elaborates on the scenario, explaining that the narrowly avoided government shutdown was a result of "Republicans trying to push their seven-month funding stopgap through the Senate," which ultimately required Democratic support to pass.

At [02:38], Raisay highlights Chuck Schumer's pivotal role, noting, "Schumer and the others who voted yes argued that during a potential shutdown, President Trump would be given even more authority to slash federal spending and potentially federal workers." Schumer's unexpected support for the GOP's funding bill has led to widespread dissatisfaction within the party.

D. Fallout and Declining Approval

The episode details the severe fallout from the funding bill saga. Raisay mentions that leaders like Hakeem Jeffries have openly criticized Schumer, with Jeffries stating, "House Democrats will not be complicit. We remain strongly opposed to the partisan spending bill" at [04:30]. Additionally, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez described Schumer's decision as "a tremendous mistake and almost unthinkable" at [04:36], signaling deep frustration across the party.

Polls reflect this discontent, with a CNN poll cited at [05:23] showing only "29% of Americans have a favorable view of the Democratic Party," the lowest since 1992. Raisay explains, "There isn't a clear strategy for dealing with Trump," highlighting the party's struggle to unify its base and appeal to moderates and independents alike.

E. Future Implications

The Democratic Party faces a crossroads, grappling with low approval ratings and internal divisions that question its leadership and strategic direction. The lack of a clear heir apparent or standard bearer complicates efforts to present a united front against the challenges posed by the Trump administration.

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II. Trump Targets Houthis in Yemen

A. Overview of Military Actions

Transitioning to foreign policy, the hosts discuss the Trump administration's recent military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen. John Bickley announces at [00:21], "The US military strikes several Houthi military targets in Yemen as Trump's foreign policy makes waves around the world."

At [07:15], Tim Pearce provides detailed coverage, stating, "President Trump's announcement that the United States has launched a strike on Iran-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen, killing at least 19," and elaborates that the strikes aimed to "open the shipping lanes in the Red Sea" and send a stern message to Iran.

B. Trump's Rhetoric and Strategic Intent

Trump's aggressive stance is evident throughout the discussion. At [08:14], Pearce notes, "Trump explicitly said that American attacks on the Houthis would continue and increase in severity if the terror group continued to, 'threaten the American people.'" Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense, echoed this sentiment by declaring the assaults "unrelenting" until the Houthis ceased their activities.

At [07:03], Trump refers to the Houthis as "foreign terrorist organization," a classification previously reversed by the Biden administration. His rhetoric contrasts sharply with the more measured approach of his predecessor, signaling a shift towards assertive military intervention in the region.

C. Implications for US-Iran Relations

The strikes serve a dual purpose: securing vital shipping lanes and signaling to Iran a tougher stance. Sean Schumer (presumably a misattribution in the transcript; likely meant another speaker) emphasizes, "They will not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon," indicating broader concerns about Iranian ambitions and regional stability.

D. Future Policy Directions

The administration's approach suggests a continued pattern of assertive foreign policy aimed at countering Iranian influence and ensuring the security of international maritime routes. This strategy may lead to heightened tensions in the Middle East and influence global geopolitical dynamics.

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III. SpaceX Rescues Astronauts from the International Space Station

A. Mission Details

A significant highlight of the episode is the successful SpaceX mission that docked with the ISS to rescue two astronauts stranded for nine months. At [07:03], Cabot Phillips introduces the segment, and Tim Pearce provides an in-depth report:

"A SpaceX capsule docked at the International Space Station early Sunday morning. The ship took off from Florida on Friday on a mission to relieve two American astronauts who have been stuck in orbit for nine months."

B. Background on Stranded Astronauts

Astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams were originally launched on June 2024 to test Boeing's Starliner capsule, intended for short missions. Technical issues forced NASA to abort their return in September, prolonging their stay to nine months. During this extended period, they conducted experiments and collaborated with incoming crews, with Williams setting a record for the most time spent spacewalking by a woman.

C. Execution and Success of the Mission

At [11:15], Suni Williams shares, "Crew 10 has had a great journey up here... the ride up on the Falcon 9 orbiting the Earth for the last couple of days, it's been absolutely incredible." The mission culminated in a successful docking, demonstrating SpaceX's reliability and the administration's commitment to astronaut safety.

D. Political Overtones and Leadership Commentary

Despite the technical success, the mission carries political undertones. President Trump criticized the Biden administration for the prolonged mission, stating at [13:34], "The most incompetent president in our history has allowed that to happen to you," promising swift action to bring the astronauts home. NASA defended the extended stay as within normal parameters, highlighting past missions exceeding a year on the ISS.

E. Implications and Future Considerations

The successful rescue mission not only underscores SpaceX's pivotal role in modern space exploration but also reflects the administration's responsiveness to leadership criticisms. It sets a precedent for future collaborations and missions, ensuring that astronaut safety remains a top priority.

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Conclusion

The March 17, 2025, episode of Morning Wire offers a comprehensive analysis of the fractured state of the Democratic Party, the Trump administration's assertive foreign policy moves in Yemen, and the triumphant SpaceX mission rescuing stranded astronauts. Through detailed discussions and notable quotations, the hosts provide listeners with an insightful overview of pressing political and international developments, encapsulating the complexities and challenges faced by contemporary American politics and global affairs.

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Notable Quotes

• John Bickley [00:03]: "Democrats openly revolt against their party leadership after they joined the GOP in keeping the government funded."

• Georgia Howe [00:09]: "The fact that the leader said one thing and then within 24 hours didn't about face it, it just looked pathetic."

• Tim Raisay [05:23]: "CNN this weekend found that just 29% of Americans have a favorable view of the Democratic Party. That is the lowest number since the poll's inception back in 1992."

• Suni Williams [11:37]: "Crew 10 has had a great journey up here... it's something that none of us could do by ourselves."

• Donald Trump [13:34]: "The most incompetent president in our history has allowed that to happen to you, but this president won't let it happen."

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This summary encapsulates the essential discussions and key moments from the episode, providing a clear and thorough overview for listeners seeking to understand the current political and international landscape as presented by Morning Wire.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

Democrats openly revolt against their party leadership after they joined the GOP in keeping the government funded.

[Georgia Howe]

The fact that the leader said one thing and then within 24 hours didn't about face it, it just looked pathetic.

[Cabot Phillips]

What does this mean for the future of the Democratic Party?

[John Bickley]

I'm Daily Wire Editor in Chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Monday, March 17th, and this is Morning Wire. The US military strikes several Houthi military targets in Yemen as Trump's foreign policy makes waves around the world.

[Chuck Schumer]

By the way, to the Houthis, this isn't a one night thing. This will continue until you say, we're done shooting at ships, we're done shooting at assets.

[Cabot Phillips]

And thanks to SpaceX, two astronauts stranded aboard the International Space Station for months are finally coming home.

[John Bickley]

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

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[Cabot Phillips]

Over the weekend, Congress narrowly avoided a government shutdown after a stunning turn that saw Democrat leaders give in to Republican demands.

[John Bickley]

Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips is here to break down the fallout from the very public power struggle and what it means for the future of the Democratic Party. Hey Cabot. So a wild weekend in Washington. Democrats really reeling here. Get us up to speed.

[Tim Raisay]

Yeah, the lights are still on in Washington as the shutdown was avoided, but not without plenty of drama and infighting. So you'll remember that on Friday, Republicans were trying to push their seven month funding stopgap through the Senate. They had until midnight, but could only win passage if eight Democrats got on board. Pennsylvania's John Fetterman was the first, and then Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who had been slamming that deal all month, reversed course and called on his members to vote yes. And ultimately seven other Democrats did join him, including New York's Kristen Gillibrand, Dick Durbin from Illinois, and Michigan's Gary Peters.

[John Bickley]

Very dramatic reversal for Schumer and others. What changed their mind?

[Tim Raisay]

Well There was a lot at play. First, if the measure had failed, Democrats would have gotten the lion's share of the blame for the shutdown, something even their party leaders acknowledged behind closed doors. Schumer and the others who voted yes argued that during a potential shutdown, President Trump would be given even more authority to slash federal spending and potentially federal workers. Here, Schumer making that case from the Senate floor.

[Donald Trump]

A shutdown will allow DOGE to shift into overdrive.

[John Bickley]

It would give Donald Trump and Doge the keys to the city, state, and country.

[Tim Raisay]

But the bottom line is this was a substantial victory for Republicans. And President Trump showed the GOP is almost totally aligned in pushing through Trump's agenda. And perhaps more importantly, it highlighted some of the major fractures within the Democratic Party, specifically with regard to how they're going to respond to the next four years under Trump.

[John Bickley]

Yeah, the question for Democrats.

[Tim Raisay]

Yeah.

[John Bickley]

Now, the fallout from this has been rather remarkable. Tell us about that, what we've seen from Democrats in the wake of this spending bill saga.

[Tim Raisay]

Yeah, let's just say Chuck Schumer is not a very popular man on the left right now. He's had an iron grip on the chamber for years. And in the past, if Democrats were mad at him, they mostly kept it to themselves, fearing recriminations. But this weekend was very different. Democrats in both chambers publicly slammed him. And the other Democrats who got on board with him, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, for example, said Schumer's effort, quote, only makes matters worse. And in perhaps the most remarkable example, Schumer's counterpart in the House, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, all but threw Schumer under the bus, issuing a statement saying, quote, house Democrats will not be complicit. We remain strongly opposed to the partisan spending bill. And most telling, Jeffries went on to refuse comment multiple times when asked if he was confident in Schumer's ability to lead the time for new leadership in the Senate.

[John Bickley]

Next question.

[Georgia Howe]

Have you lost confidence in him? The fact that you guys see this so differently.

[John Bickley]

Next question.

[Tim Raisay]

And for her part, Congressman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez called Schumer's move a, quote, tremendous mistake and, and almost unthinkable. I think there is a deep sense.

[John Bickley]

Of outrage and betrayal.

[Tim Raisay]

And this is not just about progressive Democrats.

[John Bickley]

This is, across the board, the entire party.

[Tim Raisay]

It is a huge slap in the face. Now, according to numerous reports, there are now a number of Democrats on the Hill pushing behind the scenes for Schumer to be primaried. And some Democrats have reportedly been urging Ocasio Cortez to make a run for Schumer's seat in 2028. One anonymous senator told CNN their colleagues are, quote, so mad they're ready to write checks for aoc.

[John Bickley]

All right, so AOC from this blow.

[Tim Raisay]

Up, it seems like it.

[John Bickley]

Now, this Democratic infighting comes as new polling shows the party is really less popular than ever. Where do those numbers sit now?

[Tim Raisay]

Right. A new poll from CNN this weekend found that just 29 of Americans have a favorable view of the Democratic Party. That is the lowest number since the poll's inception back in 1992.

[John Bickley]

Wow.

[Tim Raisay]

And a separate finding from NBC showed things were even worse with just 27% approving. And look, there seem to be two main dilemmas facing the party right now. First, there isn't a clear heir apparent or standard bearer for the left. CNN asked who voters view as the leader of the party. And not a single Democrat garnered more than 10% of the vote. And more broadly, there isn't a clear strategy for dealing with Trump, as evidenced by this weekend's dust up. The party's liberal base clearly wants their lawmakers to fight Trump at all costs, even if it means shutting down the government. But that strategy is far less popular with moderates and independents. So there's just no clear fix for the Democratic Party, which is still searching for a message and a messenger.

[John Bickley]

Yeah, really a serious dilemma for the Democrats at this point. Kevin, thanks so much for reporting.

[Tim Raisay]

Anytime.

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[Cabot Phillips]

From Yemen to Ukraine, it was a big weekend for the Trump administration's policies overseas.

[John Bickley]

Here with the foreign policy latest is Daily Wire Deputy Managing editor Tim Raisay. Tim so lots to get to that took place over the last 72 hours or so, including these strikes in Yemen. Catch us up here. Yeah.

[Tim Pearce]

Good morning, John. We've got a pretty full plate for a Monday morning. Let's start with probably the biggest news of the weekend. President Trump's announcement that the United States has launched a strike on Iran backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen, killing at least 19. The US military attacked by air and sea, destroying missiles, drones and missile defense systems. The immediate purpose of the attack was to open the shipping lanes in the Red Sea, which the Houthis have obstructed for months now. But the strike was also clearly meant to send a signal to Iran that the Trump administration is taking a more aggressive approach to the region. Trump named the Houthis a foreign terrorist organization at the end of his first term, a distinction Joe Biden later reversed. Trump touched on this changing dynamic on Saturday, saying that Biden's attempt to clear the Red Sea was pathetically weak. So the unrestrained Houthis just kept going. The president also issued a warning to Iran, saying support for the Houthi terrorists must end immediately.

[John Bickley]

So a pretty stark warning from Trump. And again, very different rhetoric than we heard from the Biden administration. What can we expect this administration to do in the coming weeks?

[Tim Pearce]

Well, Trump explicitly said that American attacks on the Houthis would continue and increase in severity if the terror group continued to, quote, threaten the American people. Their president, who has received one of the largest mandates in presidential history or worldwide shipping lanes. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth echoed Trump's warning on Sunday, telling the Houthis that the United States assault would be unrelenting until the group laid down its arms. And Hegseth also issued a warning to Iran. During an interview with Fox News, Maria Bartiromo.

[Chuck Schumer]

They will not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. We hope they do so that we give it up peaceably through negotiations. The president has laid out the trajectory for that because the alternative doesn't look good for anybody.

[John Bickley]

All right, switching gears to Ukraine. We're coming off a pretty big week with the Ukrainians agreeing to a temporary ceasefire. What's the latest on that front?

[Tim Pearce]

Yeah, Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to speak this week for the second time since Trump took office in January. As you mentioned, this is a pretty high stakes call because last week Ukraine agreed to a temporary ceasefire, and that ceasefire will take effect once Putin also agrees. But as always, we won't know what Putin's going to do until after he does it. However, things seem to be moving in a positive direction. Steve Witkoff, the US Special envoy, met with Putin late last week and told CNN's Jake Tapper that the meeting was positive and solutions based.

[Donald Trump]

We had some really positive results coming out of Saudi Arabia. I describe my conversation with President Putin as equally positive. So we've narrowed the differences between them and now we're sitting at the table. I was with the president all day yesterday. I'll be with him today. We're sitting with him discussing how to narrow it even further. That's how I would describe it.

[John Bickley]

So it sounds like some positive momentum going into this week's meeting between Trump and Putin. Last question before we let you go. We reported on the announcement Friday that the last U.S. citizen held hostage by Hamas may be released. What's the latest there?

[Tim Pearce]

Right. There's still a lot going on behind the scenes and nothing is solid. But as we reported, Hamas agreed to release eden Alexander, a 21 year old Israeli American who spent most of his life in New Jersey. The terror group also said it would release the bodies of four other Americans who died in captivity. Alexander's release is welcome news, of course, but it's being met with a lot of skepticism from the United States. This is part of ongoing talks about a bridge to the next phase of the ceasefire in Gaza. And the key here is that the US Says Hamas is trying to tie these promises to a list of unreasonable demands. So the whole situation remains very tenuous.

[John Bickley]

All right. Well, let's hope there's more progress in the days to come. Tim, thanks so much for reporting. You bet. A SpaceX capsule docked at the International Space Station early Sunday morning. The ship took off from Florida on Friday on a mission to relieve two American astronauts who have been stuck in orbit for nine months.

[Cabot Phillips]

Daily Wire reporter Tim Pearce is here to tell us about that SpaceX mission. So, Tim, a major development here, we've been tracking this for nine months. What happened over the weekend?

[Suni Williams]

So the SpaceX mission finally took off from NASA's Kennedy Space center on Friday after it was delayed from its original launch date in February. A mixed crew from the U.S. japan and Russia rode on the SpaceX Crew 10 Dragon capsule up into orbit and docked on the International Space Station early Sunday morning Eastern standard Time. Afterward, the mission's commander, Anne McLean, had this to say in an interview with Sky News.

[Georgia Howe]

Crew 10 has had a great journey up here about 28 hours to get back up to the space station. And I cannot tell you the immense joy of our crew when we looked out the window and we saw the space station for the first time. You can hardly even put it into words. The ride up on the Falcon 9 orbiting the Earth for the last couple of days, it's been absolutely incredible. And it is something that none of us could do by ourselves.

[Suni Williams]

This mission was pushed by President Trump to bring home two American astronauts that have been stuck on the space station for nine months. But the mission also had another purpose, too. To rotate McClane and her three astronauts into shifts on the ISS.

[Cabot Phillips]

Now, can you just remind listeners who these astronauts are and why they were left on the ISS to begin with?

[Suni Williams]

Those astronauts are Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams. They docked at the ISS in June of last year and were only supposed to be in the space station for eight days. They were testing a new space capsule from Boeing, the Starliner. But the Starliner had some technical problems and NASA returned it to Earth empty in September over what the space agency said were unacceptable risks to the astronauts. Boeing maintained that the craft was safe and could have returned Wilmore and Williams to Earth, but NASA had the final call. During their extended stay on the iss, Wilmore and Williams fell in with other crews that arrived and ran tests and experiments. It also allowed Williams to set a new record for most time spent spacewalking by a woman, 62 hours and six minutes. Wow. There was some concern about Suni Williams health. People online were quick to comment on how she appeared to be losing weight in recent months. Williams, though, says she weighs the same today as she did when she left Earth, and that fluid shifting around in zero gravity can contribute to slight changes in appearance. So those two have another couple of days on the ISS while they teach Crew 10 their roles, and then they'll be leaving on the Dragon capsule with two other astronauts.

[Cabot Phillips]

So eight days to nine months is a big gap. Why did it take so long?

[Suni Williams]

Well, according to President Trump, Wilmore and Williams were effectively abandoned by former President Biden. Here's Trump earlier this month.

[Donald Trump]

We love you and we're coming up to get you, and you shouldn't have been up there so long. The most incompetent president in our history has allowed that to happen to you, but this president won't let it happen. We're going to get them out. We're coming up to get you now.

[Suni Williams]

NASA has pushed back and said the astronauts weren't stranded and that nine months on the space station isn't unprecedented by any stretch. Astronauts have previously stayed on the ISS for more than a year, and Wilmore and Williams have themselves always had positive things to say about their stay. But regardless, they're probably very happy to finally be returning home.

[Cabot Phillips]

Right. And I'm sure their families will be very happy to see them safe at home. Tim, thanks for reporting.

[Suni Williams]

Thanks for having me.

[John Bickley]

Thanks for waking up with us. And if you enjoyed what you heard this morning, share this episode with a friend.

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