Education Overhaul & RFK Jr.’s Bold Moves | 3.7.25

Summary

Morning Wire Episode Summary: "Education Overhaul & RFK Jr.’s Bold Moves" | March 7, 2025

Presented by The Daily Wire's Editor-in-Chief John Bickley and co-host Georgia Howe, this episode delves into significant developments in education policy, RFK Jr.'s initiatives at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and a pivotal Supreme Court ruling affecting USAID funding.

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1. Trump’s Plan to Dismantle the Department of Education

Executive Order to Abolish the DOE

President Donald Trump is reportedly drafting a groundbreaking executive order aimed at dismantling the Department of Education (DOE), reverting control of education back to state and local governments. This initiative marks a significant shift in federal education policy, aligning with Republican sentiments that advocate for reduced federal oversight.

Key Points:

• Historical Context: Republican leaders since Ronald Reagan have advocated for eliminating the DOE, arguing that education is best managed locally. Despite these efforts, the DOE has remained operational since its establishment in 1980 under President Carter.
• Proposed Changes: The executive order would instruct Education Secretary Linda McMahon to take all necessary steps to facilitate the DOE's closure. Key functions, including student loan programs and the Civil Rights Office, would be reassigned to the Treasury and Justice Departments.

Notable Quote:

• Donald Trump (00:10): “Let the states run the schools, and I'll tell you, you'll see something. It's going to blow your mind. It'll be run so well.”

Rationale Behind the Move: Trump and his administration argue that the federal government is inefficient in allocating educational funds and that state and local authorities are better equipped to manage schools. They claim that before the 1980s, when states predominantly controlled education, the system functioned more effectively.

Cabot Phillips’ Insights: Daily Wire Senior Editor Cabot Phillips highlighted in the discussion that the DOE primarily focuses on setting education policies, enforcing educational laws, and distributing billions in federal funding to school districts and universities. Trump's proposal includes cutting federal funding to institutions that promote "critical race theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content."

Notable Quote:

• Donald Trump (03:43): “Most of the money that goes into education is state and local money, but this money comes to the states and localities as free money. And so all you gotta do is do what they say. You don't have to tax your own people for it. You tax everybody for it. And so that is a perverse incentive.”

Challenges and Opposition: To fully abolish the DOE, Trump will require congressional approval. Meanwhile, Democrats and teachers' unions have pledged to challenge the initiative in court, arguing that dismantling the DOE would overwhelm local school districts and create nationwide confusion.

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2. RFK Jr.’s Initiatives at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Addressing the Measles Outbreak in Texas

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., as the head of HHS, has taken decisive actions to combat a recent measles outbreak in Texas, emphasizing public health and vaccine accessibility.

Key Points:

• Measles Outbreak Response: With 159 confirmed cases, 22 hospitalizations, and one fatality, primarily within the Mennonite community, Kennedy has mobilized HHS to support Texas by making the MMR vaccine readily available. HHS has distributed 2,000 vaccine doses to West Texas and is focusing on educating parents about post-infection treatments and nutrition.

Notable Quote:

• RFK Jr. (06:55): “What we're trying to do is really to restore faith in government and to make sure that we are there to help them with their needs and not particularly to dictate what they ought to be doing now.”

Public and Political Reactions: Kennedy's op-ed on Fox News has sparked mixed reactions. While some on the left believe he isn't advocating strongly enough for vaccination, certain right-wing factions perceive his stance as a betrayal. Leaders of the MAHA movement, however, support his approach, appreciating the balance between vaccine accessibility and promoting informed consent.

Additional Vaccine-Related Moves:

• Reviewing Vaccination Schedules: Kennedy is set to review the childhood vaccination schedule and investigate potential links between vaccines, pesticides, food additives, microplastics, antidepressants, and chronic illnesses.
• Altering Public Health Campaigns: He has halted the CDC's "Wild to Mild" flu vaccination campaign, advocating instead for advertisements that promote informed consent and awareness of vaccine adverse effects.
• Committee Reorganizations: Kennedy plans to remove several members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which currently advises the FDA and CDC on vaccine approvals. He has also postponed the ACIP's first panel to incorporate public comments.

Impact on Food and Beverage Policies: The MAHA movement, under Kennedy’s leadership, is pushing for restrictions on sugary and highly processed foods within government food assistance programs like SNAP. This includes targeting popular items such as Coca-Cola, with several states considering similar measures. Despite resistance, notably from President Trump, who is a known Coca-Cola enthusiast, these efforts signify a broader public health strategy.

Notable Quote:

• RFK Jr. (09:44): “RFK has called sugary drinks like Coca Cola poison.”

Challenges: Implementing these restrictions poses political challenges, especially given Trump's personal preferences and populist stance, which may deter support for such bans.

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3. Supreme Court Ruling on USAID Funding

Setback for Trump’s Cost-Cutting Efforts

The Trump administration faced a significant setback when the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 against its attempt to block a lower court order related to a $2 billion USAID contract.

Key Points:

• Nature of the Ruling: The Supreme Court declined to grant an emergency appeal by the Trump administration to pause the disbursement of $2 billion intended for work completed before Trump's tenure.
• Legal Implications: Justice Alito, in his dissent, expressed concerns that the ruling allows a single district court judge to compel the federal government to release substantial funds, potentially setting a precedent for increased judicial oversight over executive actions.

Notable Quote:

• Justice Alito (12:10): “A single district court judge, who likely lacks jurisdiction, the unchecked power to compel the government of the US to pay out billions.”

Broader Context: This ruling is part of a larger legal battle over the extent of the Trump administration's authority to modify or halt foreign aid. While the current decision is narrow and does not establish a new precedent, it underscores the ongoing tension between the executive branch's cost-cutting measures and judicial oversight.

Jessica Levinson’s Analysis: Jessica Levinson, a Loyola Law School professor, elaborates that while the ruling specifically addresses the emergency appeal to block payment, it does not broadly determine the administration’s ability to pause foreign aid. The Supreme Court's decision indicates reluctance to intervene in what it perceives as lower court jurisdictional matters at this time.

Future Legal Challenges: Levinson anticipates that substantive questions regarding the executive branch's authority to implement cost-cutting initiatives will increasingly reach the Supreme Court, potentially shaping the boundaries of presidential power in fiscal matters.

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4. Additional Policy Developments: Tariffs on Canada and Mexico

Tariff Delays and Border Security

In a related policy move, President Trump has delayed the implementation of tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, extending the deadline to April 2. This delay is strategically aimed at encouraging these countries to improve their handling of fentanyl trafficking and border security.

Key Points:

• Tariff Extension: The postponement allows Canada and Mexico additional time to address fentanyl-related issues, which Trump believes will reduce the need for reciprocal tariffs.
• Administration’s Strategy: Trump views tariffs not only as a revenue-generating tool but also as leverage to bring other nations to the negotiating table on critical issues like drug trafficking.

Notable Quote:

• Donald Trump (05:10): “We had a very good conversation also we discussed drugs and they've been working much harder lately. Do you notice that on people coming in and drugs? And we've made tremendous progress on both.”

Political Reactions: Democrats attribute the tariff delay to Trump’s concerns over the recent downturn in the stock market caused by tariff uncertainties. The administration maintains that the extension is a tactical move to achieve better compliance from Canada and Mexico regarding drug trafficking.

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Conclusion

This episode of Morning Wire provides an in-depth analysis of the Trump administration's ambitious plans to overhaul the Department of Education, RFK Jr.'s proactive measures at HHS addressing public health crises, and the legal challenges faced in cutting federal costs, exemplified by the recent Supreme Court ruling on USAID funding. Additionally, the discussion on tariff strategies highlights the administration's multifaceted approach to both domestic and international policy challenges. Through expert insights and direct quotes, John Bickley and Georgia Howe deliver a comprehensive overview of these pivotal developments affecting politics, education, and public health.

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Stay informed with Morning Wire for the latest insights and comprehensive coverage on the news that matters.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

The Department of Education has long been getting failing grades. Now Trump is considering closing the book on the doe.

[Donald Trump]

Let the states run the schools, and I'll tell you, you'll see something. It's going to blow your mind. It'll be run so well.

[Georgia Howe]

How does President Trump plan to accomplish this? And will he need help from Congress?

[John Bickley]

I'm Daily Wire Editor in Chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Friday, March 7th, and this is Morning Wire. RFK Jr. Takes the reins of HHS and launches a series of ambitious initiatives.

[Donald Trump]

We're going to be honest with the American people for the first time in history about all of the tests and all the studies, what we know, what we don't.

[Georgia Howe]

And the Supreme Court deals the Trump administration a setback on slashing USAID funding.

[Jessica Levinson]

It basically means that the Supreme Court isn't going to parachute in and stop what's happening in the lower court.

[John Bickley]

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

[Jeremy]

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[John Bickley]

President Trump is reportedly preparing a groundbreaking executive order that would dismantle the Education Department and return education to the state level.

[Georgia Howe]

Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips is here to break it down. So, Cabot, a major order looming that could transform the education system. What do we know so far?

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah, President Trump campaigned on a promise to dismantle the doe, but there were plenty of folks who questioned how serious he actually was. Republican presidents dating back to Ronald Reagan have vowed to do away with the department, saying education should be controlled at the local level. But it's still there, nearly 50 years after President Carter created it. That soon could be changing, though. According to numerous reports, President Trump is preparing to sign an executive order that would direct education secretary Linda McMahon to, quote, take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Education Department. The White House has been quick to remind folks that the DOE doesn't actually do any educating. Their primary focus is to set education policies, enforce laws related to education, and most importantly, it allocates billions in federal funding to school districts and universities around the country. Trump has vowed to Cut off federal funding for districts and colleges that promote, quote, critical race theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual, or political content. This move could make that process easier.

[Georgia Howe]

And what's Trump's main argument for why a move like this is needed?

[Cabot Phillips]

Well, the White House's main point is that the federal government is simply inefficient at allocating funds and that state and local governments have a better idea of how to run their schools than bureaucrats in Washington. They say the education system was doing just fine before 1980, when states were largely running things themselves. As the draft of this order puts it, quote, the experiment of controlling American education through federal programs and dollars and, and the unaccountable bureaucrats these programs and dollars support has failed our children, our teachers, and our families. From what we're hearing, key functions of the doe, like their student loan programs and civil rights office would likely be taken up by the treasury and Justice Departments. For more, we spoke with Dr. Larry Arne, President of Hillsdale College, the only college in the US that does not take federal funding. Here's what he had to say.

[Donald Trump]

They just have an interest in getting the kid and getting the money. You know, good institutions do have a big interest in their students succeeding, but it's in this case, they don't have a financial interest in that. Most of the money that goes into education is state and local money, but this money comes to the states and localities as free money. And so all you gotta do is do what they say. You don't have to tax your own people for it. You tax everybody for it. And so that is a perverse incentive.

[Georgia Howe]

So what would it take to make this happen?

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah. Ultimately, Trump will need congressional approval to officially abolish the department, but in the meantime, he can hand off most of their duties to other departments. For their part, Democrats and teachers unions have vowed to oppose the effort in court. They argue it will overwhelm local school districts and create confusion around the country.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, pivoting a bit, there was some big news yesterday about tariffs Trump delayed again. What's the latest there?

[Cabot Phillips]

So, those tariffs on Canada and Mexico were supposed to go into effect last month, but Trump again paused tariffs on the vast majority of imports from the two countries, saying they have until April 2. That's when reciprocal tariffs on all the countries go into effect. According to a statement from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, quote, hopefully, Mexico and Canada will have done a good enough job on fentanyl that this part of the conversation will be off the table, and we will move just to reciprocal tariff conversation. Here's Trump to that point, speaking yesterday about a conversation he had with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

[Donald Trump]

We had a very good conversation also we discussed drugs and they've been working much harder lately. Do you notice that on people coming in and drugs? And we've made tremendous progress on both.

[Cabot Phillips]

Now Democrats say Trump reversed course here because he was panicking over the stock market, which has taken a beating this week on tariff concerns. For their part, the White House has long argued that Trump views tariffs as a means to not only of increasing revenue but also of forcing other countries to the negotiating table. It appears he is now giving Canada and Mexico a little more time to secure their borders and cut the flow of fentanyl or else.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, it's a gamble, but hopefully it pays off. Cabot, thanks for reporting.

[Cabot Phillips]

Anytime.

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[Georgia Howe]

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Issued a call to action this week over a measles outbreak in Texas. The Secretary has made several other vaccine related moves at HHS while his MAHA movement takes aim at Coca Cola and other sugary drinks.

[John Bickley]

Here to discuss is Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presto Giacomo. Hey Amanda. So let's start with RFK addressing this measles outbreak in an op ed for Fox this week that caused a lot of buzz online. What did he say there?

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Hey John. Yeah, so Kennedy said that this outbreak in Texas must elicit a call to action for all of us to affirm our commitment to public health. Now there have been a total of 159 confirmed cases of measles in the state since late January. 22 people have been hospitalized and there's been one death of a school aged child. Most of these infections have impacted children in the Mennonite population. Now specifically, Kennedy said in the op ed that he's harnessing HHS to support Texas communities and the state health department by making the measles, mumps and rubella or MMR vaccine readily available. HHS has sent 2,000 doses of the vaccine to West Texas. Kennedy also said that he's focused on educating parents on treatments post infection and nutrition. Here's a secretary on Fox News.

[Donald Trump]

What we're trying to do is really to restore faith in government and to make sure that we are there to help them with their needs and not particularly to dictate what they ought to be doing now.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

As you noted, Kennedy's op ed caused a bit of a firestorm online and reactions were all over the place. Some folks on the left said RFK wasn't pushing the MMR vaccine enough, while others on the right said that Kennedy's push for the vaccine felt like a betrayal. But taking the temperature of the Maha movement leaders, they seem to think that RFK's op ed was actually in line with their cause, allowing parents the accessibility and option for vaccination while also expanding guidance on treatment and emphasizing the need for a healthy diet to protect against most chronic and infectious illnesses.

[John Bickley]

So a mixed reaction to this, maybe unsurprisingly, there right now. RFK has made some other vaccine related moves at HHS over this last week or two. Fill us in on those steps.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Yes, a lot going on here. So Kennedy has indicated that he'll effectively be reviewing the childhood vaccination schedule. As the head of the MAHA commission, Kennedy said he'll investigate vaccines as well as pesticides, food additives, microplastics and antidepressants to see if they contribute to the rise of chronic illness. RFK has also halted the CDC's wild to mild campaign promoting the flu vaccination. Kennedy said he wants advertisements going forward to promote the idea of informed consent in vaccine decision making. That would include giving people more information about the adverse effects associated with vaccines. Also citing conflicts of interest, Kennedy is preparing to remove several members of the external committee that advises the FDA and CDC on vaccine approvals and other key public health decisions. Recommendations from that committee, known as the acip. They're almost always followed by hhs. So that could impact the childhood vaccination schedule as well. RFK has postponed the ACIP's first panel to, quote, accommodate public comment in advance of that meeting.

[John Bickley]

So several initiatives underway and shifting gears a bit to the Maha movement's impact on food and drinks. A lot of focus on that. What's the latest there?

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Yeah, we're seeing a stronger push to limit sugary and highly processed food and drink options for government food benefits called SNAP or food stamps. Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, for example, she's looking to restrict some of these less healthy options, including a favorite of President Donald Trump's Coca Cola. Lawmakers in Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, Texas, and Wyoming are also looking to make similar pushes. RFK himself has called sugary drinks like Coca Cola poison. However, Trump might be a harder sell on this. He's a populist to his core, and he knows how unpopular restrictions or bans can be. Not to mention, the president loves Diet Coke so much, he had a button installed on his desk in the Oval Office to summon a can multiple times a day.

[John Bickley]

Sort of reminds me of that photo of RFK surrounded by all that McDonald's on Trump Force One.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Yes. So uncomfortable.

[John Bickley]

Yeah. Amanda, thanks so much for reporting.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

You're welcome.

[Georgia Howe]

The Trump administration's efforts to cut costs and weed out waste has hit a setback this week when the Supreme Court ruled against its request to block a lower court order related to $2 billion for USAID contract.

[John Bickley]

Joining us now to discuss is Jessica Levinson, professor at Loyola Law School and host of the Passing Judgment podcast. Jessica, thank you so much for joining us.

[Jessica Levinson]

Yeah, I'm happy to.

[John Bickley]

So we just had this 5, 4 ruling from the Supreme Court against the Trump administration's request to block this lower court order. Can you explain what this ruling means?

[Jessica Levinson]

Yeah. What we're talking about here isn't very broadly, can the Trump administration push pause on foreign aid? What we're talking about here is something much, much narrow, a district court judge's temporary decision, a TRO saying to the Trump administration Pay $2 billion of money. That's for work that was already completed prior to the Trump administration. Now, absolutely. This is a part of a bigger case that deals with whether or not the Trump administration has the power to push pause, either temporarily or long term, on foreign aid. But this particular Supreme Court decision is really much narrower. There's a lot more kind of weediness with respect to what type of order was appealed and issues like sovereign immunity. But I think the basics are the Supreme Court is not going to get involved in an emergency basis right now.

[John Bickley]

Justice Alito warned in his dissent that this ruling could give, quote, a single district court judge, who likely lacks jurisdiction, the unchecked power to compel the government of the US to pay out billions. Are there larger precedent issues at play here, or is this, do you think, an overstatement?

[Jessica Levinson]

Justice Alito brought up a couple of points, and you pointed out one of them with respect to the power of a federal judge to say, you have to pay this money. And what Justice Alito felt is that the order that was being appealed, which is, again, A temporary restraining order is and is typically not appealable. He said that actually should be viewed as a preliminary injunction, which could be appealed. He also said there's important issues here dealing with sovereign immunity and whether or not this case could even proceed and who's likely to succeed. So is this a case where the Supreme Court has, you know, set new precedent, laid down new legal standards? I would say it's not. This is a short order by the court that says your emergency appeal for relief is not granted.

[John Bickley]

Got it. Now, broadening out a bit. What other legal fronts is the Trump administration battling on in terms of cost cutting initiatives it's trying to implement?

[Jessica Levinson]

Well, many, many. So there are so many different executive actions and so many different lawsuits with respect to those executive actions. I think what I would do is call out a few things for people to think about the big question in a number of these cases where the Trump administration is trying to freeze funds, or maybe it's to fire people, or maybe it's to remove federal employees or reorganize agencies. The question is, does any president have the power to do that? And those are big and deep questions that at some point are going to get to the Supreme Court. And then there are the initial questions in a lot of these suits which aren't ultimately, can a president do X, but did this president go about trying to do that in the right way? For instance, is this particular executive order so vague that people don't know what to do? Or is there a different agency that had to implement this executive order? So there's both these kind of procedural questions which are serious, and then there's the big kind of substantive, on the merits questions of who, if anyone in the executive branch has the power to implement these actions.

[John Bickley]

Well, it seems those substantive questions about the executive branch's authority will be coming to a head sooner than later. Jessica, thank you so much for coming on.

[Jessica Levinson]

Yeah, I'm happy to.

[John Bickley]

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