DOGE Probes the Fed & Trump’s Gaza Proposal Fallout | 2.6.25

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary Episode: DOGE Probes the Fed & Trump’s Gaza Proposal Fallout | 2.6.25 | Released on February 6, 2025

Introduction In the February 6th episode of Morning Wire, hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe delve into significant developments within the Trump administration’s efforts to overhaul the federal government, scrutinize legacy media funding, analyze President Trump’s controversial Gaza proposal, and examine the impact of new zoning laws on Los Angeles residents recovering from devastating fires. The episode provides insightful discussions, expert opinions, and notable quotes that shed light on these pressing issues.

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1. Trump and Elon Musk’s Efforts to Cut Federal Waste

The episode opens with Amanda Prestige highlighting the joint efforts of President Trump and Elon Musk in combating fraud, waste, and mismanagement within the federal government. This initiative includes high-profile actions aimed at streamlining government operations and eliminating unnecessary expenditures.

• Amanda Prestige (00:03): “President Trump and Elon Musk are rooting out fraud, waste and mismanagement of taxpayer dollars in the federal government.”

Key Actions:

• Politico Pro Subscription Cancellations: Caroline Levitt reveals that over $8 million in taxpayer dollars were allocated to subsidize subscriptions to Politico, which will now be terminated.

  • Caroline Levitt (00:10): “The more than 8 million taxpayer dollars that have gone to essentially subsidizing subscriptions to Politico on the American taxpayers dime will no longer be happening.”

• Federal Workforce Buyouts: John Bickley discusses Trump’s recent proposal offering buyouts to the CIA workforce and millions of federal employees, aiming to save an estimated $100 billion by reducing the federal workforce.

  • John Bickley (02:04): “Trump has offered a buyout to the entire CIA workforce... the goal is to save American taxpayers an estimated $100 billion.”

• Dismantling the Department of Education and USAID: The administration is moving to dismantle the Department of Education and shutter USAID, citing significant budget cuts and realignment with Trump’s priorities.

  • John Bickley (02:48): “Trump has offered to effectively dismantle the Department of Education... USAID is effectively shuttered... millions of taxpayer dollars have been misdirected.”

2. Scrutiny of Legacy Media Funding

The podcast expounds on the administration’s revelations regarding federal funding to legacy media outlets, particularly focusing on Politico Pro.

• Caroline Levitt (04:05): “We are going line by line when it comes to the federal government's books... Is this a good use of the American taxpayers money?”

John Bickley highlights concerns about media bias, indicating that Politico may not be the only legacy media outlet benefiting from federal funds during the Biden administration.

3. Dismantling USAID and Media Bias Concerns

The Trump administration has identified several controversial projects funded by USAID, alleging political bias and misallocation of funds.

• John Bickley (03:27): “The White House has released an initial list of wasteful projects USAID has funded... Elon Musk has called USAID a criminal organization.”

Elon Musk emphasized the severity of USAID’s mismanagement, stating that he and his team have taken drastic measures to eliminate waste.

4. Trump’s Gaza Proposal and Its Fallout

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to President Trump’s audacious proposal regarding Gaza, which has sparked intense reactions both domestically and internationally.

Proposal Details:

• Relocation of Gaza’s Population: Trump has suggested the permanent relocation of Gaza’s 2 million residents to other Middle Eastern countries.

  • Micah Parker (06:47): “President Trump made two bombshell announcements... that Gaza's entire population... should be permanently relocated... and that the United States ought to take over the Gaza Strip.”

• Creation of the Riviera of the Middle East: Trump proposed transforming Gaza into a U.S.-controlled region, dubbed the "Riviera of the Middle East."

• White House Clarification: While the administration attempted to soften the stance, clarifying that the removal might be temporary, the core idea remains controversial.

  • Caroline Levitt (07:35): “His goal is lasting peace in the Middle East for all people in the region... Donald Trump... is going to strike a deal with our partners in the region.”

Reactions:

• International Condemnation: Leaders from Britain, China, Russia, Australia, and Spain denounced the proposal, advocating instead for a two-state solution.

  • Micah Parker (07:58): “Overseas leaders... said the idea was insane and that they would continue to support... a two state solution.”

• Middle Eastern Leaders’ Opposition: Countries like Egypt and Jordan opposed resettling Palestinians within their borders.

• Hamas’ Response: Hamas labeled the plan as "ridiculous, absurd and racist," fearing it would escalate regional tensions.

• Domestic Opposition: Democrats, including Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, condemned the proposal as advocating for ethnic cleansing.

  • Rashida Tlaib: “Trump was, quote, openly calling for ethnic cleansing.”

• Support from Netanyahu: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared receptive to the idea, praising Trump’s innovative approach.

  • John Bickley (09:49): “Prime Minister Netanyahu seemed open to the idea. Your willingness to think outside the box.”

• David Friedman’s Perspective: Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman expressed conditional support, focusing on safety and infrastructure improvements.

  • David Friedman (08:59): “Whatever the legal issues may be... they can't stay... their safety... opens up a much wider focus on what could be.”

5. Impact of New Zoning Laws on Los Angeles Rebuilding Efforts

The episode shifts focus to Los Angeles, where recent wildfires have devastated communities, prompting debates over new zoning laws that could hinder rebuilding efforts.

Key Issues:

• Citywide Housing Incentive Program (CHIP): Aiming to increase housing affordability by mandating that 20% of new apartment units be designated as affordable housing.

  • Cabot Phillips (10:58): “The CHIP ordinance aims to increase housing affordability by requiring that at least 20% of new apartment units be designated as affordable housing.”

• Effects on Affluent Areas: In areas like the Pacific Palisades, the ordinance could prevent former affluent residents from returning due to new zoning requirements, favoring lower-income newcomers.

  • Cabot Phillips (11:19): “This policy could price out former residents in favor of newcomers who meet that lower income criteria.”

• Criticism of 15-Minute Cities Concept: Opponents argue that such zoning laws are part of a broader push toward government overreach and urban planning models like Smart LA 2028, which could limit personal freedoms and concentrate populations in specific zones.

  • Cabot Phillips (12:32): “Critics fear it's going to lead to government overreach and restrictions on personal freedoms.”

• Voices Against the Ordinance: Real estate developer Rick Caruso emphasizes the urgency of allowing residents to rebuild without additional policy-induced hardships.

  • Rick Caruso: “The most important thing right now is to get people who have lost their homes back into the same address they had before as quickly as possible.”

• Potential Precedents: If the CHIP ordinance is implemented, it could set a national precedent for how disaster zones handle rebuilding, raising concerns about policy-driven displacement.

  • Cabot Phillips (13:39): “If fully implemented... it could set a precedent for how rebuilding efforts in disaster zones across the city and potentially the state are handled.”

6. Conclusion

The episode concludes with reflections on the significant political and social implications of the Trump administration’s actions. Hosts emphasize the nationwide attention on Los Angeles’ zoning laws and hope that political leaders prioritize residents’ best interests amidst intense scrutiny.

• Amanda Prestige (14:06): “The whole nation is watching how LA's political leaders handle this. Let's hope that scrutiny actually encourages them to act in the best interests of residents this time.”

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Notable Quotes:

• Caroline Levitt (00:10): “The more than 8 million taxpayer dollars that have gone to essentially subsidizing subscriptions to Politico on the American taxpayers dime will no longer be happening.”
• John Bickley (02:04): “Trump has offered a buyout to the entire CIA workforce... the goal is to save American taxpayers an estimated $100 billion.”
• Caroline Levitt (07:35): “His goal is lasting peace in the Middle East for all people in the region... Donald Trump... is going to strike a deal with our partners in the region.”
• Rashida Tlaib: “Trump was, quote, openly calling for ethnic cleansing.”
• Cabot Phillips (10:58): “The CHIP ordinance aims to increase housing affordability by requiring that at least 20% of new apartment units be designated as affordable housing.”

Final Thoughts This episode of Morning Wire provides a comprehensive overview of the Trump administration’s aggressive moves to reshape federal governance, address perceived media biases, propose radical foreign policy changes, and influence urban redevelopment in Los Angeles. Through expert analyses and direct quotes, listeners gain an in-depth understanding of the potential ramifications of these policies on both national and international scales.

Transcript

[Amanda Prestige]

President Trump and Elon Musk are rooting out fraud, waste and mismanagement of taxpayer dollars in the federal government.

[Caroline Levitt]

The more than 8 million taxpayer dollars that have gone to essentially subsidizing subscriptions to Politico on the American taxpayers dime will no longer be happening.

[Amanda Prestige]

What else is on the chopping block?

[Georgia Howe]

I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire Editor in Chief John Bickley. It's Thursday, January 6th, and this is Morning Wire. Reactions to Trump's bold proposal to take control of Gaza have been swift and extreme.

[John Bickley]

It's going to bring the entire region.

[Micah Parker]

To come with their own solutions.

[Amanda Prestige]

And as LA residents pick up the pieces from the devastating fires, a pending zoning law could prevent many of them from rebuilding.

[Micah Parker]

We need to get moving. People are in pain. They've lost their community. Let's get it rebuilt.

[Georgia Howe]

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

[Brandon]

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[Georgia Howe]

The Trump administration, with much help from doge leader Elon Musk, is continuing to rapidly overhaul the federal government. They've also uncovered millions of taxpayer dollars going to legacy media outlets, raising more questions about political bias in reporting.

[Amanda Prestige]

Here to discuss is Daily Wire reporter Amanda Prestige. Hey Amanda. So Trump campaigned on streamlining the federal government and cutting waste. What's the latest here?

[John Bickley]

So more recently, Trump has offered a buyout to the entire CIA workforce. That's both to downsize the government and to more align the agency with Trump's priorities. This follows his broader offer to give millions of full time federal workers full pay and benefits for eight months if they choose to resign by February 6th. So today the goal there is to save American taxpayers an estimated $100 billion and frankly, to get rid of employees who don't want to be there or who refuse to return to in person work, which Trump has already mandated. Trump administration officials are reportedly drafting an executive order to effectively dismantle the Department of Education. The Education Department currently employs more than 4,000 people and has an annual budget of $79 billion.

[Amanda Prestige]

And then there's USAID, which is effectively shuttered at this point, correct?

[John Bickley]

Yeah, that's right. That had an annual budget of around $40 billion and currently has around 10,000 employees. Nearly all the staff at the agency will be placed on leave by Friday night, so by tomorrow night. And all overseas missions have been ordered to shut down. Very dramatic action there and lots of money on the line. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this week that the goal was to reform usaid. But he said they were met with a lot of resistance from the agency and effectively forced to take drastic action.

[Cabot Phillips]

They're completely uncooperative. So we had no choice but to take dramatic steps to bring this thing under control.

[John Bickley]

The White House has released an initial list of wasteful projects USAID has funded, including giving millions of taxpayer dollars to a group involved with research at the Wuhan lab. Hundreds of thousands to a nonprofit linked to terror group, 2 million to LGBT activism in Guatemala, and 1.5 million to advance DEI in Serbia. Elon Musk has called USAID a criminal organization. And he boasted on Monday that he and his team, quote, spent the weekend feeding USAID into the wood chipper.

[Amanda Prestige]

Pretty dramatic middle image there. Now, as Georgia mentioned at the top, the legacy media is entangled in this USAID controversy. What have we learned on that front?

[John Bickley]

Right, this is starting to generate a lot of debate and controversy. It involves left wing publication Politico, which produces a premium service product for professionals called Politico Pro. On Wednesday, press Secretary Caroline Levitt said that Doge spotted at least 8 million in taxpayer dollars going toward Politico Pro subscriptions. And the administration can now confirm that they will be canceling those payments.

[Caroline Levitt]

We are going line by line when it comes to the federal government's books and this president and his team making decisions across the board on do these receipts serve the interests of the American people? Is this a good use of the American taxpayers money?

[John Bickley]

Some reports suggest that this is just the tip of the iceberg and that Politico is certainly not the only legacy media outlet that's been getting big money from the federal government, particularly during the Biden administration. Those claims have, of course, raised even more questions about media bias.

[Amanda Prestige]

Right. And in fact, we're digging into this and we'll have more on this soon. Now, we've mentioned Musk and the central role he's playing. What else is he focusing on?

[John Bickley]

Yeah, he's tackling this in a very holistic way. You could say Musk has gained access to view the Treasury's payment system that processes trillions of dollars in spending each year. This past fiscal year, the feds reported an estimated $236 billion in improper payments. So a lot of potential waste could be spotted there. And just to paint a picture of how invested Musk is in all of this, he has reportedly moved beds into the headquarters of the Federal Personne and he and his staff, mostly young engineers, they're working into the night and weekends to find waste.

[Amanda Prestige]

A very Muskian approach for sure. Amanda, thanks for reporting.

[John Bickley]

You're welcome.

[Brandon]

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[Amanda Prestige]

President Trump sparked both support and outrage Tuesday when he expressed his desire for the US to take over Gaza.

[Georgia Howe]

Here with the latest details on Trump's groundbreaking plan and the ensuing political fallout is Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips. So, Cabot, first off, what exactly is Trump proposing for Gaza?

[Micah Parker]

So for those who missed yesterday's show, President Trump made two bombshell announcements during his Tuesday press conference with Benjamin Netanyahu. First, that Gaza's entire population, around 2 million people, should be permanently relocated to other countries in the Middle East. Second, and even more stunning, Trump said the United States ought to take over the Gaza Strip, creating what he called the Riviera of the Middle East. Now, it's not clear whether that land would become U.S. soil or remain in the hands of the Israelis. We're still waiting for full details. On Wednesday, the White House walked back those remarks slightly, saying the removal of Palestinians could be temporary and that it does not mean American boots on the ground in Gaza. But they did reiterate that the region is unlivable at the moment and must be cleared for reconstruction to take place safely. Here's Trump press Secretary Caroline Levitt.

[Caroline Levitt]

His goal is lasting peace in the Middle east for all people in the region. We've had the same people pushing the same solutions to this problem for decades. It does not mean American taxpayers will be funding this effort. It means Donald Trump, who is the best dealmaker on the planet, is going to strike a deal with our partners the region.

[Georgia Howe]

And what sort of response did that proposal get?

[Micah Parker]

Well, overseas leaders across Europe, Asia and the Middle east denounced the idea, saying Palestinians must be allowed to retain control of Gaza. Everyone from Britain, China, Russia, Australia and Spain essentially said the idea was insane and that they would continue to support what they call a two state solution. Elsewhere, Middle Eastern leaders outright refused the idea of resettling any Palestinians from Gaza within their own borders. And Hamas issued a statement calling the plan ridiculous, absurd and racist, claiming that it would further ignite tensions in the region. Stateside Democrats immediately decried the plan as an affront to what they called Palestinian sovereignty. Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, for example, said Trump was, quote, openly calling for ethnic cleansing. For his part, though, Prime Minister Netanyahu seemed open to the idea. Your willingness to think outside the box.

[Brandon]

With fresh ideas will help us achieve all these goals.

[Micah Parker]

Another voice in support is David Friedman, former U.S. ambassador to Israel. Here's what he told Morning Wire about the plan.

[Brandon]

Whatever the legal issues may be, whatever the moral issues may be, they can't stay. There's not a building there which wouldn't be condemned by any zoning board in the United States. They're all going to fall down. And so they'll want to leave. I mean, much more so than before even. I just think that once you reach the conclusion that for their own safety, for their own health, they have to leave, then it opens up a much wider focus on what could be.

[Micah Parker]

Friedman says that while Egypt and Jordan both expressed opposition to taking in Palestinians, they don't have much leverage on the issue. The big question that we don't yet have an answer to is how serious President Trump actually is about taking over Gaza. There are some within the GOP who believe that he's throwing out the idea as more of a bargaining chip than anything to try and encourage Hamas to take a more favorable deal with Israel as those negotiations continue.

[John Bickley]

Right.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, you always have to bake in that Trump wants a deal. Cabot, thanks for reporting.

[Micah Parker]

Anytime.

[Amanda Prestige]

It's been weeks since wildfires ravaged parts of la, and even though the fires are now out, the political heat is really just now starting to pick up. Joining us to discuss is actor and Daily Wire contributor Micah Parker. Hey, Micah, so the controversy in LA is really only growing at this point. What can you tell us?

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah, John. Well, the Los Angeles fires have left entire Communities in ruins, destroying thousands of homes and now forcing all of those residents to consider what rebuilding is going to actually look like. But for areas like the Pacific Palisades, which is historically affluent enclave, the reconstruction process, it might not be as simple as just returning to their former address. A pending housing law, the Citywide Housing Incentive Program, also known as chip, could fundamentally alter the neighborhood's economic makeup, potentially preventing many of those residents from moving back into their old addresses through a series of new zoning requirements. The Palisades, like the rest of LA's, it's not just populated by homeowners living in houses, but also renters living in apartments. And for those residents, this is especially.

[Amanda Prestige]

Concerning what exactly will this ordinance do and how will it be implemented?

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah, well, the CHIP ordinance aims to increase housing affordability by requiring that at least 20% of new apartment units be designated as quote, affordable housing. Proponents claim that this initiative is designed to create more inclusive communities and provide lower income families with access to quote, high opportunity areas.

[Amanda Prestige]

Sort of lots of DEI buzzwords in there.

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah, no kidding. So under the ordinances guidelines, many middle to high income earners would exceed the eligibility threshold for affordable housing, but they're still going to struggle to afford market rate units, especially with construction costs and rental prices expected to surge post disaster. Essentially this policy could price out former residents in favor of newcomers who meet that lower income criteria.

[Amanda Prestige]

What are officials saying on the ground there?

[Cabot Phillips]

Well, I had the opportunity to speak to LA real estate developer and former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso, and he believes that this is simply not the time to have a planning discussion and that the most important thing right now is to get people who have lost their homes back into the same address they had before as quickly as possible. And if you change the zoning requirements it could prevent that, leading to more pain and heartbreak. So here's Caruso discussing the proposed zoning laws on a recent podcast.

[Micah Parker]

I think people want their neighborhood back and personally I can't speak for everybody in the Palisades obviously, but I wouldn't support rezoning and I know there's some efforts to do that and I would push against that.

[Amanda Prestige]

So it's like losing your home twice, in effect, once from a fire, once from public policy. What else are opponents of this ordinance saying about it?

[Cabot Phillips]

Well, they argue that it's part of a broader push towards the so called 15 minute cities and more specifically smart LA 2028. This is a concept in urban planning that seeks to create self sufficient neighborhoods where residents can live, work and access essential services within a short distance this plan was adopted in December 2020 by former mayor Eric Garcetti, with the plan prioritizing the reduction of car dependency and lowering carbon emissions. Critics fear it's going to lead to government overreach and restrictions on personal freedoms. And then the emphasis on developing housing in high opportunity areas raises more concerns. By mandating more affordable housing in affluent neighborhoods, skeptics believe the city is not only trying to address housing inequity, but also restructuring urban development in a way that limits mobility and concentrates populations in specific zones. So we could be seeing the Pacific Palisades, once a symbol of exclusive coastal living, at the center of this social experiment.

[Amanda Prestige]

And as we've seen, these types of things don't often turn out as the planner's plan. Necessarily not at all. So what happens next?

[Cabot Phillips]

Well, the CHIP ordinance has cleared several hurdles in the LA City Council and is expected to be finalized soon. And if fully implemented in the wake of the fires, it could set a precedent for how rebuilding efforts in disaster zones across the city and potentially the state are handled. While supporters champion it as a necessary step towards addressing LA's housing crisis, those who have called Pacific Palisades home for years may find themselves priced out. Not by the free market, by policy.

[Amanda Prestige]

The whole nation is watching how LA's political leaders handle this. Let's hope that scrutiny actually encourages them to act in the best interests of residents this time.

[Cabot Phillips]

One can hope.

[Amanda Prestige]

Micah, thanks so much for coming on.

[Cabot Phillips]

It's my pleasure.

[Georgia Howe]

Thanks for waking up with us and if you enjoyed listening, share this episode with a friend.

[John Bickley]

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