Morning Wire – “Energy War Divides West & Trump Targets Filibuster”

Date: April 1, 2026
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe
Notable Guests: E.J. Antoni, Jim Campbell, Cabot Phillips, Cameron Arcan

Main Theme

This episode examines how the escalating conflict with Iran is fracturing Western alliances and destabilizing global energy markets. It also explores critical developments in U.S. policy and law: President Trump’s call to end the Senate filibuster, new voting regulations, and two historic Supreme Court cases—touching on free speech and birthright citizenship.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Ongoing “Energy War” and Western Division

(Segment Start ~00:19)

• Topic Overview:
  The U.S. and Europe are experiencing friction as elevated oil prices cause economic instability, largely due to the protracted Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

• Expert Commentary:

  • E.J. Antoni (Heritage Foundation):
    "If the bombing schedule stays the way it has been, you're going to continue to see oil prices remain stubbornly high, and you are going to see that price at the pump get worse." (00:27)
  • The true magnitude of global energy market influence is "underestimated," especially with spillover effects now seen in industries like fertilizer due to reliance on natural gas. (04:51)

• Trump’s Position:

  • Now considering ending the war without reopening the Strait of Hormuz, despite European protests.
  • Issued a challenge to U.S. allies:
    "All of those countries that can't get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom...I have a suggestion for you to, number one, buy from the U.S. we have plenty. And number two, build up some delayed courage. Go to the straight and just take it...You'll have to start learning how to fight for yourself. The USA won't be there to help you anymore. Just like you weren't there for us." (Cabot Phillips quoting Trump, 02:44–03:42)

• European Backdrop:

  • Spain, France, and Italy denied U.S. landing rights for military aircraft; Europe wants the U.S.-led operation wrapped up due to severe economic fallout.
  • Europe and Asia are far more vulnerable:
    • Asia relies on the Strait for 75% of energy imports.
    • Europe imports ~90% of its oil, exposure worsened by climate policies limiting domestic production.
    • European Commission urged residents to "work from home and cut down on unnecessary driving." (06:34)

• Memorable Quote – On Energy Markets:
  "People have really underestimated just how much energy markets are going to affect all other aspects of the economy, perhaps the most acute one we've seen so far...fertilizer...but a lot of these spillover effects, if you will, are yet to come." — E.J. Antoni (04:51)

2. Supreme Court: Free Speech and Birthright Citizenship

(Segment Start ~07:38)

• Free Speech Win:

  • Chiles v. Salazar: SCOTUS delivered a near-unanimous (8–1) opinion striking down a Colorado law regulating 'conversion therapy' as unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination.
    • Jim Campbell (ADF Counsel):
      "If there's one thing we know about the First Amendment, it's that the government can't pick and choose views that it likes while silencing views that it doesn't like...the Court recognized that you can't relabel speech conduct just to avoid the requirements of the First Amendment." (09:01)
    • Only Justice Jackson dissented. Laws like Colorado’s now face a "very significant burden" and may be effectively nullified as applied to voluntary counseling. (09:53)
    • Campbell: "We're very optimistic this is the end of those laws to the extent governments try to apply them to shut down voluntary conversations between counselors and their clients." (09:53)

• Birthright Citizenship Case:

  • SCOTUS to hear arguments on whether children of illegal immigrants receive automatic citizenship under the 14th Amendment.
  • President Trump issued an executive order denying birthright citizenship in such cases—implementation blocked pending litigation.
  • Jim Campbell:
    "The 14th Amendment was originally approved by the people in order to grant citizenship to freed slaves...But over time, some have come to understand that as allowing birthright citizenship to children born to illegal immigrants." (11:02)

3. Senate Showdown: Filibuster & Government Shutdown

(Segment Start ~12:11)

• Congressional Inaction:

  • Government shutdown continues; Senate and House left for Easter/Passover break after passing different funding bills, neither of which ended the shutdown. (12:31)

• Trump’s Call to End Filibuster:

  • President Trump encourages Republicans to scrap the filibuster, arguing it's hampering "urgent" legislative priorities.
    • Trump: "I think the Senate is playing too soft. The Republicans are wonderful people. We're dealing with very sick individuals. The Democrats are sick." (01:17)
  • Republican senators like Rick Scott are pushing to end the filibuster, pointing to the Save America Act (voter ID bill) as an example of stalled conservative legislation. (13:34)
  • Democrats previously sought to end the filibuster (2022), highlighting shifting political stances.

• Alternative Strategy:

  • Reconciliation process discussed as a (difficult) workaround to the filibuster; could allow for passage of DHS funding without 60 Senate votes.
  • Current deals do not fully restore funding or include promised policy reforms—for example, ICE and Border Patrol lack funding in the Senate-passed bill. (14:43)

• Notable Moment:
  "The Senate does not seem to have the votes to get rid of that [filibuster], even though a couple years ago...Democrats actually wanted to end the filibuster...obviously times have changed." — Cameron Arcan (13:34)

4. New Trump Executive Order: Voting Restrictions

(Segment Start ~16:47)

• Policy Details:
  • Directs DHS to create lists of confirmed U.S. citizens; states must send mail-in ballots only to those on the official lists and use secure, barcoded envelopes.
  • States refusing to comply risk loss of federal funding.
    • Trump:
      "That's a big deal. Very proud of it. And I think, I don't know how it can be challenged...You may find a rogue judge. You get a lot of rogue judges, very bad, bad people, very bad judges...But I don't see how anybody can challenge it." (17:11)

Notable Quotes

• E.J. Antoni, on Energy Fallout:
  "People have really underestimated just how much energy markets are going to affect all other aspects of the economy." (04:51)

• Donald Trump, on Allies:
  "You'll have to start learning how to fight for yourself. The USA won't be there to help you anymore. Just like you weren't there for us." (03:42)

• Jim Campbell, on Free Speech Case:
  "If there's one thing we know about the First Amendment, it's that the government can't pick and choose views that it likes while silencing views that it doesn't like." (09:01)

• Donald Trump, on Filibuster:
  "I think the Senate is playing too soft. The Republicans are wonderful people. We're dealing with very sick individuals. The Democrats are sick." (01:17)

• Donald Trump, on new Voting Order:
  "That's a big deal. Very proud of it. And I think, I don't know how it can be challenged...You may find a rogue judge...But I don't see how anybody can challenge it." (17:11)

Timeline of Key Segments

• 00:19–06:39: Iran energy crisis, Trump’s message to Europe, and global market impacts
• 07:38–11:57: Supreme Court decisions: Free speech (conversion therapy), birthright citizenship
• 12:11–16:46: Senate gridlock, government shutdown, filibuster debate, and reconciliation
• 16:47–17:33: Trump’s executive order on mail-in voting

Conclusion

This Morning Wire episode delivers a rapid-fire rundown of policy ruptures, legal milestones, and political posturing in Washington and abroad. The U.S.–Europe split over Middle Eastern oil security, historic Supreme Court rulings on speech and citizenship, and procedural warfare in the Senate all underscore that the West is navigating a period of mounting internal and external crises—with President Trump as both a catalyst and a critic in real time.