Morning Wire: "Election Week Preview & Trump Warns Nigeria"

Date: November 3, 2025
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe
Notable Guests/Reporters: Cabot Phillips, Megan Basham, Tim Pearce

Episode Overview

This episode dives into critical election races across the US and highlights rising scrutiny regarding the FBI’s “Arctic Frost” probe targeting Trump allies. It closes with President Trump’s forceful warnings to Nigeria over Christian persecution and growing US involvement in South American affairs. The tone is urgent, fact-driven, and skeptical of Democratic leadership and mainstream narratives.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Election Week: High-Stakes Races Nationwide

(Segment begins at 02:25)

• Largest Focus: NYC Mayoral Race

  • Zoran Mamdani, a 34-year-old avowed socialist, leads by approximately 14 points.

  • Opponents: Republican Curtis Sliwa; independent (former Democrat) Andrew Cuomo.

  • Democratic establishment figures, except those on the far left, are hesitant to endorse Mamdani.

  • Polling Dynamics: Cuomo leads among US-born voters (+9), Mamdani dominates among foreign-born voters (+38).

    “By tomorrow night, America’s largest city could be run by an avowed socialist...it would take a big upset at this point for him to lose.”
    —Cabot Phillips (02:44)

• Democratic Party Division

  • High-profile Democrats like Schumer, Pelosi, and Gillibrand still withhold support.
  • Pressure led NY Gov. Kathy Hochul and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries to finally endorse Mamdani, but only at the last minute.

• New Jersey Governor’s Race

  • Democrat Mikie Sherrill vs. Republican Jack Cittarelli; a surprisingly tight contest.
  • Trump’s strong performance in 2024 (losing by just 6%) shifted the state right.
  • Cittarelli has closed the polling gap to within 3 points despite a major Democratic registration advantage.
  • Turnout & enthusiasm among independents and the GOP base are key.

• Virginia Governor’s Race

  • Republican Winsome Earl-Sears challenges frontrunner Abigail Spanberger (D).

  • The contest’s tone is shaped by the Attorney General race: Jay Jones (D) scandal (leaked texts expressing fatal wishes for Republicans), yet Jones remains on the ticket.

  • Republicans use the scandal to link Spanberger to Jones.

    “Would it take him pulling the trigger? Is that what would do it? And then you would say he needs to get out of the race. Abigail, you have nothing to say?”
    —Winsome Earl-Sears, debate clip (06:21)

2. **Revelations About “Arctic Frost”

Biden-era DOJ’s Political Weaponization?**
(Segment begins at 07:49)

• Arctic Frost: An FBI/DOJ investigation, started in April 2022, initially aimed at Trump allies and quickly expanding to hundreds of individuals and conservative organizations.

  • Led by Timothy Tebow; eventually overseen by Special Counsel Jack Smith.

  • Whistleblower documents released by Sen. Chuck Grassley point to potential abuse and overreach targeting Republicans.

    “Arctic Frost was the vehicle by which FBI agents and DOJ prosecutors could improperly investigate the entire Republican political apparatus. Contrary to what Smith has said publicly, this was clearly a fishing expedition.”
    —Sen. Chuck Grassley (08:56)

• Scope of Subpoenas

  • In 2023 alone: 197 subpoenas, including for private emails, bank records, phone metadata.

  • Targets included: TPUSA, 9 GOP senators (e.g., Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham), White House aides, media companies (Fox News, Newsmax), and donors.

  • Significant controversy: AT&T refused to comply with some subpoenas; Verizon complied, giving up phone records.

  • Secret gag orders issued to phone companies to prevent alerting targets.

    “A federal judge even gagged AT&T from informing Senator Cruz about [the subpoena] for a year.”
    —Megan Basham (09:37)

• Calls for Accountability

  • Sen. Ted Cruz is pushing for the impeachment of Judge James Boasberg, for approving unprecedented gag orders.

  • Rep. Brandon Gill is drafting articles to that effect, calling Boasberg a “radical activist judge.”

    “That was an absolute abuse of power…He is not being a judge. He is being a partisan left wing activist.”
    —Rep. Brandon Gill (11:49)

  • Conservative legal voices call for criminal charges and disbarment of DOJ/FBI staff involved.

  • More whistleblower revelations anticipated.

3. Trump’s Foreign Policy Moves: Nigeria and South America

(Segment begins at 12:26)

• Nigeria: Trump’s Military Ultimatum

  • Trump threatens “guns a blazing” military intervention unless Nigeria halts Christian persecution, following reports of over 7,000 Christians killed this year.

  • Trump designates Nigeria a “country of particular concern” (reinstating status removed by former President Biden).

    “[Nigeria] needs to move fast, or the US Military will move fast to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities.”
    —Paraphrased summary, Tim Pearce (12:53)

• US Response and Legislation

  • Sen. Ted Cruz supports Trump’s action and pursues legislation to sanction Nigerian officials complicit in religious persecution.

    “This legislation would impose serious sanctions on any individual government official that is complicit or... acquiescent in that persecution.”
    —Sen. Ted Cruz (14:32)

  • Nigeria's official response: Denial of systemic persecution, but openness to anti-terrorist US assistance—provided Nigeria’s territorial integrity is respected.

• South America: Mixed Signals

  • Venezuela: Reports surface of possible US strikes against military/drug targets, though Trump denies them. Goal: Pressure Maduro out.
  • Argentina: Trump aids in stabilizing the economy ahead of midterms, threatens to pull US aid if libertarian President Javier Milei’s party loses. Milei’s party wins with over 41% of the vote, enabling free market reforms.

Notable Quotes

• Cabot Phillips on NYC Mayoral Race:
  “By tomorrow night, America’s largest city could be run by an avowed socialist...it would take a big upset at this point for him to lose.” (02:44)

• Sen. Chuck Grassley on “Arctic Frost” Probe:
  “Arctic Frost was the vehicle by which FBI agents and DOJ prosecutors could improperly investigate the entire Republican political apparatus. Contrary to what Smith has said publicly, this was clearly a fishing expedition.” (08:56)

• Winsome Earl-Sears challenging Abigail Spanberger:
  “Would it take him pulling the trigger? Is that what would do it? And then you would say he needs to get out of the race. Abigail, you have nothing to say?” (06:21)

• Rep. Brandon Gill on Judge Boasberg:
  “That was an absolute abuse of power. He is not being a judge. He is being a partisan left wing activist.” (11:49)

• Sen. Ted Cruz on Sanctioning Nigeria Officials:
  “This legislation would impose serious sanctions on any individual government official that is complicit or acquiescent...in that persecution.” (14:32)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:25 — Election Week Preview begins
• 02:44 — NYC Mayoral race deep dive
• 04:27 — New Jersey gubernatorial race
• 05:23 — Virginia gubernatorial/Attorney General races & scandal
• 07:49 — Arctic Frost revelations and discussion
• 12:26 — Trump’s foreign policy moves: Nigeria and South America
• 14:32 — Ted Cruz on Nigeria, proposed sanctions

Summary

This episode offers an in-depth, right-leaning perspective on America’s pivotal election week, major DOJ/FBI overreach allegations, and President Trump’s assertive global posture. It highlights Democratic disunity, the weaponization of government institutions, and the GOP’s renewed assertiveness abroad. The tone is urgent and skeptical, especially regarding institutional and Democratic actors, while emphasizing news that “you need to know.”