Education Department Dismantled & Tesla Terrorism Continues | 3.21.25

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary
Episode: Education Department Dismantled & Tesla Terrorism Continues | 03.21.25
Release Date: March 21, 2025
Host: John Bickley
Co-Host: Georgia Howe
Presented by: The Daily Wire

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1. Dismantling the Department of Education

Historic Move by the Trump Administration

In a landmark decision, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, fulfilling a long-standing campaign promise. This action marks a significant shift in federal education policy after 45 years of its existence.

• John Bickley opens the discussion:
  "[00:03] After decades of failing grades, the Department of Education is being dismantled by the Trump administration."

Rationale Behind the Dismantling

Republicans argue that the Department of Education has been ineffective, citing soaring education spending without corresponding improvements in student outcomes. They advocate for returning control of education to the states, believing that local governments, teachers, and parents are better suited to address educational needs.

• Georgia Howe highlights the historical significance:
  "[00:08] Today we take a very historic action that was 45 years in the making."

• Caroline Levitt from the White House emphasizes financial inefficiency:
  "[03:24] The Department of Education was founded in the 1970s, and since then, we have spent more than $3 trillion at this federal bureaucracy. What has been the return on that investment for the American taxpayer? Levels that are less than ideal."

Impact on Education Policy and Funding

The White House points out that despite a 245% increase in per-pupil spending since 1979, student achievement has stagnated. Test scores for 8th graders are reportedly at their lowest in decades, with 70% of fourth graders not meeting reading proficiency standards.

• John Bickley queries the future implications:
  "[04:01] All right, so again, this promise kept from the president, but the big question now, what comes next? What do we expect?"

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon’s Role

Linda McMahon, newly appointed Secretary of Education, is tasked with overseeing the dismantling process. She emphasizes a shift towards local control and accountability, ensuring that educational reforms are tailored to individual communities.

• Linda McMahon remarks on restructuring:
  "[04:39] We restructured the department and removed some departments. We did it, I think, very thoughtfully... The best education, the president certainly believes, and I share that belief, is that that is close to the child."

Future of Department Responsibilities

While the Department of Education is being dismantled, key functions like student loan programs and civil rights enforcement will be transferred to other federal departments, such as the Treasury and Justice Departments.

• Georgia Howe outlines the preservation of critical funds:
  "[05:52] Pell grants Title 1 funding resources for children with disabilities and special needs will be preserved, fully preserved, and redistribute to various other agencies and departments that will take very good care of them."

Conclusion of the Education Segment

This move represents a major overhaul in federal education policy, potentially reshaping the educational landscape for generations to come.

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2. Tesla Under Siege: Domestic Terrorism Charges and Political Ramifications

Attorney General Charges Suspects with Domestic Terrorism

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the charging of three individuals with domestic terrorism charges related to violent attacks on Tesla properties. These attacks include arson, firebombing, and vandalism targeting Tesla dealerships and charging stations.

• John Bickley introduces the segment:
  "[00:14] Attorney General Pam Bondi charges several suspects with domestic terrorism after targeting Tesla."

Details of the Attacks

The suspects are accused of lobbing Molotov cocktails at Tesla retailers in Oregon and Colorado, as well as vandalizing Tesla properties with obscene graffiti supportive of President Trump.

• Pam Bondi provides specifics:
  "[07:01] One suspect allegedly lobbed eight Molotov cocktails at a retailer in Oregon, and then another in Colorado is charged with attempting to light Teslas on fire..."

Organized Nature of the Protests

Investigations reveal that these attacks are part of an organized effort, with a dedicated hashtag and an undisclosed website encouraging vandalism against Tesla vehicles.

• Cabot Phillips comments on the organization:
  "[00:30] But it's becoming clear that this is organized. They have a hashtag for it. There's actually a website which I won't name because I don't want people to go to it."

Political Influences and Funding

Pam Bondi accuses groups like the Indivisible Project, funded by the George Soros Foundation, and the Action Network of orchestrating these protests. She alleges significant financial backing aimed at undermining Elon Musk and Tesla.

• Pam Bondi details the funding sources:
  "[08:58] ...there is plenty of evidence that these protests are being well funded by outside political groups... Indivisible Project... Open Society, to the tune of some $8 million."

Public and Bipartisan Response

Despite the severity of the attacks, bipartisan condemnation is lacking. Some public figures, including talk show host Jimmy Kimmel and Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, have made statements that appear to downplay the violence or endorse the protests against Tesla.

• Megan Basham reports on public reactions:
  "[08:18] ...some Democrats and public figures have even seemed to make light of the violence."

Impact on Tesla and Elon Musk

The ongoing attacks have significantly impacted Tesla’s stock, which has seen a 50% decline since December. However, Elon Musk remains the richest person globally, and his other ventures like X have rebounded in valuation.

• Pam Bondi assesses the financial damage:
  "[10:22] ...the bulk of Musk's wealth is tied up in Tesla stock... but he's still the richest person in the world."

Analysis and Future Implications

Senior editor Cabot Phillips suggests that this orchestrated attack is part of a larger effort to disrupt federal initiatives and perceptions around Musk’s leadership.

• Cabot Phillips on strategic implications:
  "[09:35] ...the biggest thing, I think, is just getting people into the mindset of, this is a crisis... a cabal of neo reaction billionaires."

Conclusion of the Tesla Segment

The targeting of Tesla underscores heightened political tensions and the volatile intersection of technology, politics, and activism, signaling a tumultuous period ahead for the company.

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3. IRS Overhaul: Audit Halts and Whistleblower Promotions

IRS Halts Major Audits Amid Agency Overhaul

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is pausing major audits and anticipating a reduction in future audits. This move aligns with the Trump administration’s strategy to reform the agency following significant budget cuts.

• Tim Rice explains the situation:
  "[11:22] ...the agency is reportedly halting a number of major audits and seems likely to pursue fewer audits down the line."

Political Context and Previous Expansions

The Biden administration had previously expanded the IRS’s auditing capabilities, increasing concerns about potential overreach. Plans to hire over 80,000 new agents focused on auditing lower-income earners were a point of contention, as highlighted by a Syracuse University report.

• Tim Rice contextualizes the audit pause:
  "[11:22] ...the Biden administration had really expanded the IRS's auditing power... lowest income wage earners were 5.5 times more likely to be audited than anyone else."

Treasury Secretary Scott Besant’s Vision

Treasury Secretary Scott Besant outlined a new focus for the IRS, emphasizing collections, privacy, and customer service. He downplays any political agenda, framing the changes as necessary for the agency’s efficiency and effectiveness.

• Scott Besant on IRS priorities:
  "[12:21] ...three priorities for the IRS collections, privacy and customer service. And we'll see what level is needed to prioritize all those."

Promotion of Whistleblowers Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler

In a surprising turn, the IRS promoted Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler—whistleblowers who previously alleged that the Biden administration interfered with investigations into Hunter Biden’s taxes. Their promotions to senior advisors signify a potential shift towards supporting transparency and reform within the agency.

• Tim Rice details the promotions:
  "[13:02] ...they will serve as senior advisors to Besant and then transition back into senior positions at the IRS."

• Background on Whistleblowers:
  Shapley and Ziegler testified in 2022 about obstructed investigations into Hunter Biden, facing legal challenges alleging they revealed confidential tax information. Their promotions are seen as a vindication and a signal of internal agency reform.

Implications of IRS Changes

These developments indicate a significant transformation within the IRS, moving away from previous administration policies towards a model that prioritizes taxpayer service and efficiency over aggressive auditing strategies.

• John Bickley reflects on the irony of whistleblowers being promoted:
  "[14:35] But now we see that if you do blow the whistle on something shady, you might actually get a promotion."

Conclusion of the IRS Segment

The IRS overhaul represents a pivotal moment in federal tax administration, potentially enhancing the agency’s credibility and operational effectiveness while addressing past criticisms of bias and inefficiency.

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Final Thoughts

The March 21, 2025, episode of Morning Wire delivers comprehensive coverage of pivotal issues shaping American politics and society. From the transformative dismantling of the Department of Education to the targeted attacks against Tesla and significant reforms within the IRS, the podcast provides insightful analysis and in-depth reporting. Notable quotes and expert opinions ensure listeners are well-informed on these critical developments.

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For more detailed insights and daily updates on politics, culture, education, sports, and more, tune into Morning Wire by The Daily Wire.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

After decades of failing grades, the Department of Education is being dismantled by the Trump administration.

[Georgia Howe]

Today we take a very historic action that was 45 years in the making.

[John Bickley]

I'm Daily Wire editor in chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Friday, March 21st, and this is Morning Wire. Attorney General Pam Bondi charges several suspects with domestic terrorism after targeting Tesla.

[Cabot Phillips]

But it's becoming clear that this is organized. They have a hashtag for it. There's actually a website which I won't name because I don't want people to go to it.

[Megan Basham]

And the IRS is slamming the brakes on major audits as the agency braces for radical change.

[John Bickley]

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

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[Megan Basham]

President Trump on Thursday signed an executive order to disband the Department of Education.

[John Bickley]

Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips is here to break down what comes next. So Trump following through here on another campaign promise, and this one is a really big one. What did the nation just witness? Yeah.

[Caroline Levitt]

At a ceremony yesterday at the White House, President Trump did what numerous Republican presidents have called for but never done, eliminate the Department of Education. Speaking before a room of governors, educators and students from around the country, President Trump struck a celebratory tone. Have a listen.

[Georgia Howe]

We're going to be returning education very simply back to the states where it belongs. And this is a very popular thing to do. But much more importantly, it's a common sense thing to do and it's going to work.

[Caroline Levitt]

Now Republicans were quick to remind folks this week that the Education Department does not actually do any educating. They instead set education guidelines and policies, enforce education related laws and distribute billions of dollars in taxpayer fund to schools around the country. Republicans argued that education should be controlled at the state level and that teachers and local school boards have a better idea of their students needs than bureaucrats in Washington. We spoke with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee yesterday. Here he is making that Case we.

[Georgia Howe]

Can spend those dollars so much more efficiently and effectively than the federal government can and certainly, you know, taxpayer money, Tennessee and send up to D.C. and then they send back to us. If it's filtered through a bureaucracy of thousands of employ, it siphons off a large part of that tax money to support that bureaucracy before it comes back to educate our kids. You know, there's no real value add.

[Caroline Levitt]

Now, for their part, the White House argues that since the Department of Education was created, education spending has gone through the roof, but outcomes and test scores have fallen. Here's White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt to that point yesterday.

[Pam Bondi]

The Department of Education was founded in the 1970s, and since then, we have spent more than $3 trillion at this federal bureaucracy. What has been the return on that investment for the American taxpayer? Levels that are less than ideal.

[Caroline Levitt]

On that note, the White House sent out a memo ahead of the signing saying, quote, per pupil spending has increased by more than 245% since 1979, but there has been virtually no measurable improvement in student achievement. They cited studies showing the math and reading scores for 8th graders right now are at their lowest level in decades, while 70% of fourth graders are not proficient in reading.

[John Bickley]

All right, so again, this promise kept from the president, but the big question now, what comes next? What do we expect?

[Caroline Levitt]

Well, Secretary of education Linda McMahon will be heading up the effort to dismantle the department she just took over this month. McMahon told her staff in a memo that she was prepared to usher in a, quote, new era of accountability and education. Quote, our job is to respect the will of the American people and the president they elected, who has tasked us with accomplishing the elimination of bureaucratic bloat here at the Department of Education. A momentous final mission, quickly and responsibly. We got the chance to Talk with Secretary McMahon yesterday after the signing. Have a listen.

[Linda McMahon]

We restructured the department and removed some departments. We did it, I think, very thoughtfully. We made sure that there was a great severance package in place for those people who are no longer, you know, with the department. And we did it, you know, as humanely, I think, as you can, knowing that you are impacting and affecting people's lives. The best education, the president certainly believes, and I share that belief, is that that is close to the child. It's best determined when education can be tailored to local communities, by governors, by state superintendents, by teachers and parents involvement. And we've seen that already in states who have been innovative with their programs. We want to see scores go up and we want to do it more efficiently.

[Caroline Levitt]

And it's worth noting it will take an official act of Congress to fully abolish the department. At the moment, that seems unlikely given the 60 vote threshold in the Senate. But Trump can still use executive authority to strip the department of nearly all of its responsibilities and funding. The department's most important functions, though, will remain in place. Trump says they'll be shifted to other departments. For example, it looks like the DOE's student loan programs will go to the Treasury Department and their civil rights office will be moved under the Justice Department. Here's Trump.

[Georgia Howe]

Pell grants Title 1 funding resources for children with disabilities and special needs will be preserved, fully preserved, and redistribute to various other agencies and departments that will take very good care of them.

[Caroline Levitt]

So, again, a major shakeup in Washington that could have a generational impact on education.

[John Bickley]

Absolutely. Something that a lot of people didn't think they'd actually witness. And here it is.

[Caroline Levitt]

Right.

[John Bickley]

Kevin, thanks so much for reporting.

[Caroline Levitt]

Anytime.

[Pam Bondi]

If you're going to touch a Tesla, go to a dealership, do anything, you better watch out because we're coming after you. And if you're funding this, we're coming after you. We're going to find out who you are.

[John Bickley]

That was Attorney General Pam Bondi announcing that her office is charging three suspects with domestic terrorism following a wave of violent attacks on Tesla properties. This comes as Tesla owners learn that their names and addresses may have been listed on a public website.

[Megan Basham]

Here with more is Daily Wire Culture reporter Megan Basham. So, Megan, every day there are more stories of arson, firebombing, gunfire, vandalism, all targeting Tesla. But it sounds like now the DOJ is cracking down. What do we know about these charges?

[Pam Bondi]

Yeah, so we don't have the names of the suspects yet, but we do know that these charges center on attacks on Tesla dealerships and charging stations. One suspect allegedly lobbed eight Molotov cocktails at a retailer in Oregon, and then another in Colorado is charged with attempting to light Teslas on fire, again with Molotov cocktails. And then the third charge comes out of Charleston, South Carolina, where the suspect allegedly scrawled obscene graffiti about President Trump on Tesla property and lit charging stations on fire. Now, this violence is especially concerning as it's now putting ordinary citizens at risk. On Wednesday, a number of Tesla owners confirmed that their names and home addresses were published on an online map that had been decorated with a Molotov bomb. And the site also encouraged protesters to unleash their artistic flair by vandalizing Tesla vehicles. And it also recommended other, quote, creative expressions of Protestants. And I'll be honest, we're just not seeing the kind of bipartisan condemnation of this that I think you would expect. In fact, some Democrats and public figures have even seemed to make light of the violence. On Wednesday night, talk show host Jimmy Kimmel responded to a clip of Elon Musk saying that these attacks make no sense by saying this.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, let me see if I can.

[Tim Rice]

Explain it for you.

[Georgia Howe]

When you pull out a chainsaw to.

[Scott Besant]

Celebrate firing thousands of people, they get mad.

[Georgia Howe]

It's just, you know, my God.

[Tim Rice]

I mean.

[Pam Bondi]

And then also on Wednesday night, this is what Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett said during a live stream with the protest group Tesla takedown on March 29th.

[Megan Basham]

It's my birthday, and all I want to see happen on my birthday is for Elon to be taken down. Yes. Now, during his interview with Fox News, Musk suggested that, quote, other forces may be fueling this wave of attacks and that the Tesla Takedown protests aren't necessarily organic. Do we have any proof of that?

[Pam Bondi]

Well, you know, obviously the investigations are ongoing into the individual incidents. But, yes, there is plenty of evidence that these protests are being well funded by outside political groups. One of these groups, for instance, is the Indivisible Project. It's been heavily financed by George Soros Foundation Open Society, to the tune of some $8 million. And they've also received funding from Democratic fundraising platform ActBlue. In fact, one of their founders, Leah Greenberg, spoke recently about organizing protests at Tesla dealerships and spreading the word that Musk's advisory role in the administration is a unique threat.

[Cabot Phillips]

I think we certainly want to look at what specific levers do we have to pull in relation to Elon Musk, whether that is protesting outside of your local Tesla dealership or whether that is potential congressional action. But the biggest thing, I think, is just getting people into the mindset of, this is a crisis. This is a hostile takeover of the federal government by a cabal of neo reaction billionaires.

[Pam Bondi]

An Indivisible Project is not the only group, either. Others, like Action Network, are longtime professional protest organizers. They worked behind the scenes at Occupy Wall street for years, for instance, and now they're helping to organize these Tesla demonstrations. They also published addresses of Tesla dealerships across the country for protesters to target.

[Megan Basham]

So how badly is this hurting Musk and Tesla?

[Pam Bondi]

Well, you know, the bulk of Musk's wealth is tied up in Tesla stock. So the fact that it has taken about a 50% hit since Dec is significant, but he's still the richest person in the world. And he also recently got some good news on the X front. The value of that company has experienced a major rebound. While at one point it had fallen as low as 70%, its latest valuation puts it at 44 billion, which, coincidentally, is exactly what Musk paid for it in 2022.

[Linda McMahon]

Wow.

[Megan Basham]

Well, the irony of the left targeting the most successful electric car company just kind of shows what a wild time we're in.

[Pam Bondi]

Yes.

[Megan Basham]

Megan, thanks for reporting.

[Pam Bondi]

Anytime.

[Megan Basham]

It's been a busy few days for the irs, and not just because it's tax season. The agency is halting major audits and adjusting to new management.

[John Bickley]

Here with a look at what's going on with everyone's favorite agency is Daily Wire Deputy Managing editor Tim Rice. So some big changes with the IRS and now some big news stories this week. Tell us what's the latest here.

[Tim Rice]

Yeah, Good morning, John. The big story is that the agency is reportedly halting a number of major audits and seems likely to pursue fewer audits down the line. Now, critics are pointing to this as a huge red flag. They say pausing the audits is leaving billions of dollars on the table and basically means letting the rich get away with tax fraud. But remember, the Biden administration had really expanded the IRS's auditing power in a way that left people concerned. And Democrats had plans to bring on more than 80,000 new IRS agents who would largely have been tasked with auditing people making less than $400,000 a year. The lowest income wage earners were 5.5 times more likely to be audited than anyone else. That's according to a report put together by Syracuse University using IRS data. So an auditing pause is pretty in line with the Trump administration's plan to change how the IRS does business. It also comes a few weeks after the Trump administration cut around 6,000 employees from the agency. On Meet the Press this weekend, Treasury Secretary Scott Besant discussed those cuts and shared his vision for the future of the agency.

[Scott Besant]

I will tell you that there were about 15,000 probationary employees that we could have let go. We kept about 7,500, 8,500 because we viewed them as essential to the mission. And, you know, we will know once we get inside. But what I can tell you is that we are doing a big review. Right now is playoff season for us. April 15th is game day. So I have three priorities for the IRS collections, privacy and customer service. And we'll see what level is needed to prioritize all those.

[John Bickley]

So in other words, Besson is saying they're focusing on tax collection, not a political agenda, right?

[Tim Rice]

Exactly. And that brings us to the second major IRS story of the week. On Tuesday, the agency announced that it had promoted Gary Shapley and Joseph Ziegler to be senior advisors to Besant. Those two are the IRS employees who alleged they were wrongfully targeted after blowing the whistle on Hunter Biden's tax evasion. For the next year, the pair will serve as senior advisors to Besant and then transition back into senior positions at the irs. So they've gone from being targeted for speaking out against problems with the IRS to helping reform the agency. In a statement announcing their promotions, Besant praised them as veteran civil servants who will help further the agency's focus on collections modernization and customer service so we can deliver a more effective and efficient IRS experience for hardworking American taxpayers.

[John Bickley]

A pretty massive reversal of fortune for those two. Now refresh our memories. What exactly did blow the whistle on that made them targets?

[Tim Rice]

Yeah, Shapley and Ziegler testified to Congress in 2022 that agency officials blocked their investigation into Hunter Biden evading taxes on his $8.3 million income. They said their superiors stopped their investigation because it would have looked bad for Joe Biden. And they said that Hunter Biden was given favorable treatment during the auditing process and even got warnings ahead of certain investigations. Hunter Biden named both Shapley and Ziegler in a lawsuit alleging they revealed confidential tax information in their testimonies. At the time, Shapley's lawyers said Hunter's suit was just another frivolous smear by Biden family attorneys trying to turn people's attention away from Hunter Biden's own legal problems and intimidate any current and future whistleblowers.

[John Bickley]

But now we see that if you do blow the whistle on something shady, you might actually get a promotion. Tim, thanks so much for reporting.

[Tim Rice]

You bet.

[John Bickley]

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