Evening Wire: The Fed Cuts Rates & Melissa Hits Cuba | 10.29.25

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Evening Wire: The Fed Cuts Rates & Melissa Hits Cuba"

Podcast: Morning Wire
Hosts: Georgia Howe, John Bickley
Date: October 29, 2025
Episode Theme:
This episode delivers a fast-paced roundup of critical news stories: the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut, Hurricane Melissa’s destructive path through the Caribbean, political updates in the US, developments in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, an unusual animal escape in Mississippi, and more. The reporting is direct and fact-focused, with a brisk and conversational tone.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Federal Reserve Cuts Interest Rates

• Timestamps: [00:20 – 00:55]
• Details:
  • The Fed lowered its benchmark rate by a quarter point, to between 3.75% and 4%. This follows a similar cut in September.
  • The decision aims to support the cooling job market, while inflation remains slightly above target.
  • The Fed cites "tariff pressures and global trade uncertainty" for heightened prices, and signals further cuts if employment weakens.
• Notable Quote:
  • Cabot Phillips: "Policymakers now say they're walking a tightrope by trying to support a slowing labor market without letting inflation...get out of control." [00:32]

2. Hurricane Melissa Devastates Jamaica and Cuba

• Timestamps: [00:55 – 01:24]
• Details:
  • Hurricane Melissa, a Category 3 storm with 125 mph winds, struck Cuba after devastating Jamaica.
  • Massive flooding and power outages reported; storm downgraded to Category 2 as it heads for the Bahamas.
  • Dozens of deaths in Jamaica; destruction described as "catastrophic".
• Notable Quote:
  • Georgia Howe: "Dozens of deaths have been reported in Jamaica, and the number is expected to rise. Early media reports suggest there is catastrophic damage on the island." [01:10]

3. Israel, Hamas & Middle East Tensions

• Timestamps: [01:24 – 02:10]
• Details:
  • Israel reaffirms adherence to a ceasefire after conducting retaliatory strikes in Gaza post-IDF soldier’s death.
  • President Trump issues a stern warning to Hamas.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Donald Trump: "If they don't behave, they get taken out." [01:51]

4. US Immigration and Deportations

• Timestamps: [02:10 – 02:55]
• Details:
  • Over 527,000 illegal immigrants deported so far under the Trump administration, with projections to reach 600,000 by year's end.
  • Aiming for 1 million deportations annually, the administration incentivizes self-deportation with bonuses and flights.
  • DHS claims 1.6 million self-deported already.
• Notable Quote:
  • Jenny Terre: "The administration is offering a thousand dollar bonus and free flights home to those who choose to leave on their own." [02:41]

5. Senate Rebukes Trump Tariffs

• Timestamps: [02:55 – 03:38]
• Details:
  • Five Republican senators cross party lines to oppose tariffs on Brazil, highlighting disagreement within the GOP.
  • Senate vote: 52–48 against the tariffs; GOP rift exposed.
• Notable Quote:
  • Mitch McConnell (via Joel Niedler): "Tariffs make both building and buying in America more expensive...they don't talk nearly as much about how much of that revenue they'll spend protecting American growers and producers from the avoidable harm of their policies." [03:21]

6. GOP Popularity During Government Shutdown

• Timestamps: [03:38 – 04:13]
• Details:
  • Contrary to expectations, Republicans' popularity increases during the government shutdown, according to CNN’s Harry Enten.
• Notable Quote:
  • Harry Enten: "So again, what's the electoral reason that Republicans would give in at this point?" [03:59]

7. Biden DOJ’s Expansive Probe into Trump Allies

• Timestamps: [04:30 – 05:14]
• Details:
  • New FBI documents show 150+ Republican officials/associates scrutinized by the Arctic Frost probe.
  • Probe led under FBI Director Chris Wray, continued by Special Counsel Jack Smith and AG Merrick Garland.
• Notable Quote:
  • Andy Valdez: "The committee says investigators used FBI field offices from across the country to conduct their probe… also looked into as many as 111 others." [04:48]

8. J.D. Vance 2028 Presidential Prospects

• Timestamps: [05:14 – 06:12]
• Details:
  • President Trump suggested a 2028 Vance–Rubio ticket, calling it “unstoppable.”
  • Vance demurs, emphasizing focus on current VP responsibilities and solving the affordability crisis.
• Notable Quote:
  • J.D. Vance: "My attitude is the American people elected me to be Vice President. I'm going to work as hard as I can to make the President successful over the next three years and three months." [06:02]

9. FBI Director Cash Patel Ends Unauthorized Probe

• Timestamps: [06:12 – 06:55]
• Details:
  • Cash Patel shuts down an unauthorized NCTC investigation into possible foreign involvement in Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
  • Move followed a tense White House meeting; concerns about overreach and compromising FBI's own probe.
• Notable Quote:
  • Actual (reporter): "Patel viewed the move as an overreach that could compromise the FBI's own investigation." [06:40]

10. Crime Spike in Washington D.C.

• Timestamps: [06:55 – 07:22]
• Details:
  • Twelve shot, three cars stolen in nine hours across D.C.; not believed to be connected.
  • Five injured near Howard University during homecoming.
  • Police make arrests; spike occurs even as citywide crime is reportedly dropping.
• Notable Quote:
  • Georgia Howe: "The nation's Capitol saw a spike in violence. Twelve people were shot within nine hours and three cars were stolen killed." [06:55]

11. Mississippi Monkey Incident

• Timestamps: [07:22 – 08:00]
• Details:
  • Truck carrying research monkeys crashes in Jasper County; animals escape.
  • Five destroyed, one remains loose. Monkeys carried hepatitis, herpes, and Covid variants—said to be non-infectious.
  • PETA calls the escape "a public health disaster waiting to happen."
• Notable Quote:
  • Cabot Phillips: "The 40 pound animals were said to have variants of hepatitis, herpes and Covid...animal rights groups are still sounding the alarm." [07:30]

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Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On rate cuts:
  "Policymakers now say they're walking a tightrope by trying to support a slowing labor market without letting inflation...get out of control.”
  —Cabot Phillips [00:32]

• On hurricane devastation:
  “Dozens of deaths have been reported in Jamaica, and the number is expected to rise. Early media reports suggest there is catastrophic damage on the island.”
  —Georgia Howe [01:10]

• On Hamas:
  "If they don't behave, they get taken out."
  —Donald Trump [01:51]

• On Senate tariff vote:
  "Tariffs make both building and buying in America more expensive...”
  —Mitch McConnell (as reported by Joel Niedler) [03:21]

• On large deportation numbers:
  “The administration is offering a thousand dollar bonus and free flights home to those who choose to leave on their own.”
  —Jenny Terre [02:41]

• On Vance’s priorities:
  “I'm going to work as hard as I can to make the President successful over the next three years and three months.”
  —J.D. Vance [06:02]

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Additional Noteworthy Segments

• [08:00] Brief recaps and reference to earlier coverage: Senate hearings on political violence, ICE leadership struggles, and controversies related to Zoran Mamdani.

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Overall Impression

This episode exemplifies Morning Wire’s focus on punchy, no-nonsense reporting with an emphasis on facts and a conservative editorial lens. The hosts and correspondents bring clarity to complicated topics, providing news highlights suitable for listeners who want to stay informed on major headlines without commentary overload. The inclusion of memorable quotes and context, coupled with an urgent yet measured tone, makes for an engaging and informative summary of the day’s top stories.

Transcript

[Georgia Howe]

The Federal Reserve makes another rate cut decision. Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Cuba, and our nation's capital sees a spike in violence. I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley. It's Wednesday, October 29th, and this is Evening Wire.

[Cabot Phillips]

The Federal Reserve slashed rates today in a move they say will keep the job market afloat. Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips reports.

The Fed has lowered its benchmark rate by a quarter point, down to a range of 3.75 to 4%. It's the second cut this year following a similar move in September. Policymakers now say they're walking a tightrope by trying to support a slowing labor market without letting inflation, which is slightly above the Fed's 2% target, get out of control. The central bank blamed tariff pressures and global trade uncertainty for current rising prices and hinted that it could act again if hiring continues to weaken.

[Georgia Howe]

After leaving devastation in Jamaica, a weakened but still strong Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Cuba early this morning. The Category 3 storm clocked wind speeds of about 125 mph, causing widespread flooding and power outages. The storm has since weakened to a Category 2 and now travels toward the Bahamas, where it's expected to make landfall this evening. Dozens of deaths have been reported in Jamaica, and the number is expected to rise. Early media reports suggest there is catastrophic damage on the island.

[Cabot Phillips]

Israel has pledged to abide by the terms of the ceasefire after trading attacks with Hamas. On Tuesday, the Israeli military conducted airstrikes in the Hamas run region of the Gaza Strip after a terrorist killed an IDF soldier in Gaza's south. The Israeli military said the strikes hit dozens of terror targets and terrorists and that it's begun renewed enforcement of the ceasefire in response to Hamas's violations. For his part, President Trump warned Hamas today that it needs to behave and.

[Donald Trump]

Hamas is a very small part of the overall Middle east peace. We have peace in the Middle East. If we have to, we'll take out Hamas very easily and that'll be the end of Hamas. We would rather not. We made a deal with them where they were going to behave and have to behave. If they don't behave, they get taken out.

[Georgia Howe]

The Trump administration has hit another deportation milestone. Daily Wire immigration reporter Jenny Terre has the numbers.

[Jenny Terre]

The Trump administration has already deported more than 527,000 illegal immigrants from the country. At the current pace, federal authorities could deport 600,000 by the end of President Trump's first year in office. Despite the progress, it still falls short of the administration's lofty goal of deporting 1 million illegal immigrants each year. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons told the Daily Wire last month that the agency can still make that happen with its push for illegal immigrants to, quote, self deport. The administration is offering a thousand dollar bonus and free flights home to those who choose to leave on their own. DHS says roughly 1.6 million have already self deported.

[Cabot Phillips]

Five Senate Republicans joined with Democrats on Tuesday in a vote denouncing President Trump's tariffs on Brazil. Daily Wire senior editor Joel Niedler has more.

[Joel Niedler]

Senator Susan Collins of Maine, Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Thom Tillis of North Carolina sided with Senate Democrats in a 52 to 48 vote against the president's trade policy. The vote exposes a small rift in the GOP between the president and some lawmakers. McConnell said in a statement defending his vote, quote, tariffs make both building and buying in America more expensive. Protectionists eagerly celebrate the revenue from tariff duties, but they don't talk nearly as much about how much of that revenue they'll spend protecting American growers and producers from the avoidable harm of their policies.

[Georgia Howe]

The GOP appears to actually be getting more popular over the course of the shutdown. CNN chief data analyst Harry Entin voiced his own surprise at the development this week as polls indicate Republicans are not seeing a drop in popularity. When host John Berman predicted that political pain would be what ultimately brought people to the table, Enten said Democrats might be the only ones feeling the pain.

[Harry Entin]

You might think, given that the Republicans are in charge of both the House and the Senate, that a government shutdown might actually hurt the Republican brand, but in fact it hasn't. If anything it's been helped a little bit. So again, what's the electoral reason that Republicans would give in at this point?

[Donald Trump]

And so how do Democrats, how are they positioned right now?

[Harry Entin]

This is in fact the worst position Democrats have been on in a generic ballot at this point in midterm when there was a Republican president in the last 20 years.

[Cabot Phillips]

Newly released FBI documents reveal an even more wide ranging investigation by Biden's DOJ into President Trump and his supporters than previously known. Daily Wire assistant editor Andy Valdez has the story.

[Andy Valdez]

The House Judiciary committee says the FBI's Arctic frost probe may have targeted more than 150 Republican officials and allies. The committee says investigators used FBI field offices from across the country to conduct their probe. They ended up interviewing more than 40 Republican aligned individuals and also looked into as many as 111 others. The operation, which reportedly began under FBI Director Chris Wray was carried on by Special counsel Jack Smith under then Attorney General Merrick garland.

[Georgia Howe]

Vice President J.D. vance addressed this week the prospect of him running for President in 2028 with Marco Rubio as his VP. President Trump said this week that a Vance Rubio ticket would be, quote, unstoppable. So Miranda Devine asked Vance about it on her Pod Force One podcast. Vance replied, Trump floated it, quote, probably six months ago and that he's mentioned it to Rubio in the past, at least in jest.

[J.D. Vance]

It feels so premature because we're still so early and what, what I always say to people is if we take care of business, the politics will take care of itself. And we're nine months into this thing. We've done a lot of good, there's a lot more work to do because, I mean, look, the thing that I most worry about is that Biden left us a terrible affordability crisis. We've got to make life more affordable for American citizens again. So my attitude is the American people elected me to be Vice President. I'm going to work as hard as I can to make the President successful over the next three years and three months.

[Cabot Phillips]

FBI Director Cash Patel has reportedly shut down an unauthorized probe in the possible foreign involvement in Charlie Kirk's assassination. Daily Wire Reporter's Actual reports.

[Actual]

The New York Times reports that Patel ended the National Counterterrorism Center's inquiry during a tense White House meeting. The probe, led by NCTC chief Joe Kent, was looking into whether foreign entities played a role in Kirk's killing. Kent had reportedly gained access to FBI case files through a low level official, but without formal authorization. Patel viewed the move as an overreach that could compromise the FBI's own investigation. Following the White House meeting, which included Patel, Kent, Tulsi Gabbard, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and J.D. vance, the NCTC's investigation was formally shut down.

[Georgia Howe]

The nation's Capitol saw a spike in violence. Twelve people were shot within nine hours and three cars were stolen killed. The incidents took place at seven locations across the District and appear unrelated to one another. Five victims were shot near Howard University as the school celebrated homecoming weekend. Police seized two 19 year olds and three guns connected to that shooting and more arrests are expected. The spike comes amid a drop in crime throughout D.C. as federal forces continue.

[Cabot Phillips]

To support police and several aggressive research monkeys were at large. In Mississippi's Jasper county, the incident happened after a truck carrying the primates flipped. Officials say five were, quote, destroyed while one remains at large. The 40 pound animals were said to have variants of hepatitis, herpes and Covid. Tulane University, who uses the monkeys for research, insists they were not infectious. But animal rights groups are still sounding the alarm, with PETA calling the incident a public health disaster waiting to happen. Local wildlife officials and animal control teams remain on high alert, still hoping to capture the remaining escapee.

[Georgia Howe]

All right. Those are your Drive Home updates this evening. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com, and in case you missed it, earlier today, we covered some major stories, including the Senate hearing on political violence, a brewing power struggle shaking up ice leadership and new controversies plaguing Zoran Mamdani. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of MORNING wire.