Evening Wire: Trump’s Indonesian Deal & Flash Floods Hit NYC | 7.15.25

Summary

Evening Wire: Trump’s Indonesian Deal & Flash Floods Hit NYC | 07.15.25

Released on July 15, 2025 | Hosted by John Bickley and Georgia Howe

---

U.S.-Russia Tensions Escalate Over Tariffs

The episode opens with a discussion on the escalating tensions between the United States and Russia. President Trump has intensified his stance against Moscow, declaring that Russia has 50 days to reach a peace agreement or face sweeping tariffs.

John Bickley expressed his frustration, stating at [00:35], “I'm disappointed in President Putin because I thought we would have had a deal two months ago, but it doesn't seem to get there. So based on that, we're going to be doing secondary tariffs. If we don't have a deal in 50 days, it's very simple and they'll be at 100%.”

In response, Russian Security Councilman Dmitry Medvedev dismissed Trump's threats as "theatrical" [00:50]. European leaders remain divided; some commend the strong U.S. position, while others caution that a 50-day deadline might be too lengthy, especially as civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict continue to rise. As of the episode's recording, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not issued a direct response.

Trump Secures Trade Deal with Indonesia

Transitioning to international trade, John Bickley highlighted President Trump's recent achievement in forging a trade deal with Indonesia [01:07]. The agreement is touted as mutually beneficial and follows Trump's threat of a significant 32% tariff on Indonesian exports. Indonesia, notable for being the world's fourth most populous nation, primarily exports agricultural goods and textiles but does not rank among the top 20 U.S. trade partners. This deal is part of a broader strategy where the U.S. has secured preliminary agreements with countries like China, Vietnam, and the UK, all of which now face increased tariff rates compared to pre-2025 levels. Countries yet to finalize agreements include the EU, Japan, and South Korea.

Economic Indicators and Federal Reserve Developments

Georgia Howe provided an update on the latest economic data, noting a slight uptick in inflation for June. The Consumer Price Index rose by 2.7% year-over-year and 0.3% from May, marginally exceeding economists' expectations of 2.6% [01:49]. The White House hailed the numbers as a positive sign, emphasizing that core inflation has consistently met or surpassed forecasts since Trump resumed office. The Federal Reserve is slated to meet in two weeks, with expectations leaning towards maintaining current interest rates.

In related news, John Bickley discussed the administration's search for a new Federal Reserve Chair [02:16]. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant confirmed that the process is underway, even though Fed Chair Jerome Powell's term isn’t set to end for another two years. Bessant, a prominent Trump ally and key figure in the tariff strategy, is viewed as a leading candidate, though he has not officially announced his interest. President Trump has publicly criticized Powell, urging his early resignation over disagreements on interest rates and federal spending.

Market Reactions and Corporate Moves

The economic landscape influenced market behaviors, with Georgia Howe reporting that inflation concerns and lackluster bank earnings led to a significant drop in the Dow, which fell over 300 points [02:58]. Financial stocks like Wells Fargo and BlackRock were hit hard, while Citigroup bucked the trend by rising 4%. The Nasdaq saw a modest increase of 0.3%, buoyed by a 3% surge in Nvidia shares following news that the company may resume chip sales to China.

In corporate developments, Apple has secured a deal to purchase U.S.-made rare earth magnets from MP Materials starting in 2027 [02:58]. This agreement aligns with the Pentagon’s efforts to reduce dependence on China for critical minerals. MP Materials plans to expand its Texas facility and build a second plant to meet the growing demand. Following the announcement, MP’s shares soared by 28%, marking a significant industrial victory for the Trump administration.

Agricultural and Food Industry Updates

John Bickley shared a noteworthy development in the U.S. food industry: over 90% of ice cream sold in the country will soon be free from artificial dyes [03:53]. Announced by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, this initiative represents a voluntary, proactive effort by dairy farmers and ice cream producers to eliminate artificial colors by the end of 2027. Georgia Howe added that approximately 35% of the American food industry has now committed to this change, signaling a substantial shift towards cleaner, more natural food products.

HHS Secretary RFK Jr. emphasized the transformative impact on the food industry, noting a significant "sea change" towards healthier, more transparent food production practices [04:25]. This move not only addresses consumer health concerns but also aligns with broader governmental objectives to ensure the quality and safety of food products in the market.

Tragic Floods in Texas and NYC

The episode poignantly covered the recent devastating floods affecting both Central Texas and New York City. Georgia Howe detailed the tragic loss of 27 girls and counselors at Camp Mystic in Central Texas [04:48]. The camp director, Dick Eastland, received an emergency alert about life-threatening flash floods at 1:14 AM and began evacuating campers to higher ground. Tragically, Eastland perished at around 2 AM while attempting to rescue campers. The family spokesperson confirmed that communication via walkie-talkie was immediate, and efforts to relocate were swift upon witnessing the rising floodwaters.

Meanwhile, John Bickley reported record-setting rainfall in New York City, resulting in severe flash flooding [05:30]. More than 2 inches of rain fell between 7 and 8 PM, marking the second wettest hour of rainfall in the city's history. The downpour caused widespread disruptions, trapping subway commuters and halting traffic. At least two fatalities occurred in New Jersey as cars were swept away by sudden floodwaters. Additionally, major northeastern cities such as Washington, Baltimore, and Hartford were under flash flood warnings, highlighting the broader regional impact of the extreme weather event.

Political Turmoil in NYC Mayoral Race

Georgia Howe recounted a dramatic incident involving Zoran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for New York City mayor [06:00]. During a press conference, Mamdani's event was abruptly interrupted when a campaign aide removed him from the stage. Although initially unclear, it was revealed that Mamdani had accepted the endorsement of the American Federation of Musicians Local 802 and was addressing questions from reporters. The situation escalated when a female campaign staffer was seen grabbing Mamdani by the arm as a band began playing, leading to the abrupt end of the press conference. John Bickley noted the confusion and partial responses, indicating a possible internal conflict within the campaign.

Legislative Moves on National Anthem Protocol

In a cultural and political intersection, lawmakers are advancing legislation to mandate that the "Star-Spangled Banner" be performed exclusively in English [06:31]. This move was catalyzed by a recent incident where a singer performed the anthem in Spanish at an LA Dodgers game, leading to backlash from Republican lawmakers. One lawmaker criticized the unnamed artist for "making a political statement" through the performance, asserting that the national anthem should remain free from political theatrics. The singer defended her choice, stating that she opted to perform in Spanish despite requests to sing in English, underlining a commitment to inclusivity and cultural expression.

Passing of Pastor John MacArthur

Georgia Howe delivered the sad news of the passing of Pastor John MacArthur at the age of 86 [07:12]. MacArthur, a prominent figure in the evangelical community, led Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, for 56 years. He authored over 400 books, including the bestselling "The Gospel According to Jesus." MacArthur gained national attention for his defiance against local COVID-19 restrictions, leading to a legal battle that resulted in the county and state each paying the church $400,000. In his last public appearance on the Ben Shapiro Show, MacArthur urged skeptics of Christianity to "just read the Bible," emphasizing its inherent truth and moral resonance.

John Bickley echoed MacArthur's sentiments, highlighting the pastor's belief in the Bible's self-defending nature: “Read the Bible, just read the Bible. It has the ring of truth. It defends itself. It's like a lion. You don't defend it. You don't defend a lion. You open the cage and let it out. It'll be okay. And the scripture is like that. It's like that. Even morally, there's something in the heart of people that resonates with biblical morality” [07:52].

Sports Highlight: Raleigh’s All-Star Triumph

Shifting to sports, John Bickley celebrated Call Raleigh’s victory in the Home Run Derby [07:52]. Raleigh, a star for the Seattle Mariners, won his first All-Star Home Run Derby by defeating Tampa Bay’s Junior Common Arrow with a score of 18-15. Notably, Raleigh’s father, a former coach for Tennessee and Western Carolina, pitched while his younger brother caught, showcasing a family collaboration. Raleigh, nicknamed "Big Dumper," is the first switch hitter and catcher to secure the win, having already hit an impressive 38 home runs by the All-Star break. Additionally, Raleigh is an alumnus of Florida State, making him only the sixth player from the university to participate in the All-Star Game, following Dick Hauser in 1961.

Ben Shapiro’s Cameo on Family Guy

Georgia Howe reported on Ben Shapiro’s recent cameo on the animated series Family Guy [08:55]. Shapiro expressed mixed feelings on social media, stating he was pleased to appear but disappointed that his entire scene was cut. The episode featured Brian the dog, portrayed as a liberal, becoming frustrated when his book's sales were driven by conservative promotion, including Shapiro’s character. John Bickley humorously critiqued the portrayal, remarking, “It has the ring of truth. It defends itself. It's like a lion...Never as good as the Simpsons. Not nearly as smart as South Park. I wonder how Seth still writes this from inside the closet” [09:19].

Shapiro’s new book, "Lions and Scavengers," is set for release on September 2nd, further showcasing his continued influence and media presence [09:38].

Closing Remarks

John Bickley concluded the episode with a brief recap, encouraging listeners to visit dailywire.com for more detailed coverage on major stories such as Trump's warning to Russia, Biden's auto pin controversies, and potential challenges for the GOP in the upcoming midterms [09:43]. He also hinted at additional stories covered in the morning edition, emphasizing the comprehensive news coverage Morning Wire offers.

---

This episode of Evening Wire provided listeners with in-depth analysis and updates on significant political developments, economic indicators, corporate strategies, tragic natural disasters, and cultural events. Through engaging discussions and direct quotes from key figures, hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe delivered a thorough overview of the day's most pressing issues.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

Russia scoffs at Trump's tariff threats. The administration says it's officially searching for a new Fed chair, and the Big Apple navigates severe flash flooding. I'm Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Tuesday, July 15th, and this is Evening Wire.

[Georgia Howe]

President Trump is turning up the heat on Moscow, but according to Russian officials, they don't care. This comes after the president announced he's going to make sure Ukraine is armed to the teeth and that Russia has 50 days to make peace or face sweeping tariffs. Here's Trump.

[John Bickley]

I'm disappointed in President Putin because I thought we would have had a deal two months ago, but it doesn't seem to get there. So based on that, we're going to be doing secondary tariffs. If we don't have a deal in 50 days, it's very simple and they'll be at 100%.

[Georgia Howe]

Russian Security Councilman Dmitry Medvedev called the move theatrical. Meanwhile, European leaders expressed mixed reactions, some praising the strong stance, others warning 50 days is too long as civilian casualties mount. Putin has not directly responded yet.

[John Bickley]

Trump announced that he's made a trade deal with Indonesia, calling it a great deal for everybody. Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips has latest. The president said on Truth Social that he negotiated directly with Indonesia's president. The move comes just days after Trump threatened a steep 32% tariff on the country's exports. Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, exports agricultural goods and textiles, though it ranks outside the top 20 U.S. trade partners. This is the latest in a string of ongoing tariff negotiations following deals in principle with China, Vietnam and the UK all carrying elevated tariff rates compared to pre2025 levels. Those still without agreements include the EU, Japan and South Korea.

[Georgia Howe]

Inflation inched up in June, coming in just slightly hotter than expected. The consumer price index climbed 2.7% year over year and 0.3% from May. Economists had predicted it would be 2.6%. The White House called the numbers a win, noting that core inflation has met or beaten forecasts every month since Trump returned to office. The Fed meets in two weeks, where they're expected to once again hold rates steady.

[John Bickley]

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant says the process of finding a new Federal Reserve chair is underway. The news comes two years before current Fed Chair Jerome Powell's term is set to end. There are a lot of great candidates, and we'll see how rapidly it progresses. It's President Trump's decision, and it will move at his speed. Bessant, a close Trump ally and key architect of the administration's tariff strategy is widely seen as a top contender, though he stopped short of confirming interest. President Trump has publicly pressured Powell to resign early, criticizing him over interest rates and federal spending.

[Georgia Howe]

Inflation jitters and underwhelming bank earnings weighed on markets today as the dow fell over 300 points. Wells Fargo and BlackRock dragged financials, while Citigroup bucked the trend, rising 4%. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq edged up 0.3% due to a 3% jump in Nvidia, which announced it may soon resume chip sales to China. The latest inflation numbers and Trump's tariffs loomed large, causing some minor investor hesitation. Apple has struck a deal to buy US made rare earth magnets for their products starting in 2027. The deal with MP Materials follows the Pentagon's 400 million doll in MP and works to cut reliance on China for critical minerals. MP will expand its Texas facility and build a second plant to meet demand. Shares of MP surged 28% Tuesday, marking a major industrial win for the Trump administration.

[John Bickley]

It's a great time to grab a pint of ice cream. More than 90% of all ice cream sold in the US will soon be made without artificial dyes. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins made the announcement on Monday.

[Georgia Howe]

I don't want to get too far.

[John Bickley]

Ahead of the big announcement today, but I just want to commend all the.

[Georgia Howe]

Dairy farmers and ice cream producers they represent for taking on this voluntary, proactive effort to eliminate the use of artificial colors and ice cream products by the end of 2027.

[John Bickley]

HHS Secretary RFK Jr also spoke at the event highlighting the sea change in the US Food industry. And with this edition today of the dairymen and the dairy food producers, we now have about 35% of American food industry that has made commitments.

[Georgia Howe]

The director of Camp mystic reportedly received an Emergency alert about 45 minutes before beginning evacuation. 27 girls and counselors lost their lives at the camp amid the devastating Central Texas floods nearly two weeks ago. Camp Director Dick Eastland allegedly received the emergency alert about life threatening flash floods at 1:14am he began relocating campers to higher ground. Around 2am Eastland died while attempting to rescue campers in the flood, according to a family spokesperson. He immediately began communicating about the alert via walkie talkie. The camp leadership started moving campers to higher ground when they saw floodwaters.

[John Bickley]

Record setting rain caused flooding in the Big Apple last night. Flash flooding trapped subway goers and stalled traffic in the second wettest hour of rainfall in the city's history. More than 2 inches of rain fell between 7 and 8pm Causing subway lines and flights to be delayed or suspended. At least two people were killed in similar sudden rainfall in New Jersey when their cars were swept away. Several other major northeastern cities, including Washington, Baltimore and Hartford, were under flash flood warnings last night.

[Georgia Howe]

Zoran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for mayor of New York City, abruptly ended a press conference yesterday when a campaign aid pulled him off stage.

[John Bickley]

Thank you for your question.

[Georgia Howe]

I think we're done here. Channel seven, we're gonna go. We're wrapping up.

[John Bickley]

Sorry, folks.

[Georgia Howe]

Mamdani accepted the endorsement of the American Federation of Musicians Local 802 and answered a few questions from reporters. A female campaign staffer can be seen grabbing Mamdani by the arm as the band starts to play.

[John Bickley]

Lawmakers have moved to keep the Star Spangled Banner in the English Oklahoma Republicans introduced the bill after a singer performed the song in Spanish at an LA Dodgers baseball game. One lawmaker slammed the no name singer, who she said chose to make a political statement when singing the song. She added the anthem should never be used for political theater. The singer said she performed the song in Spanish even though the Dodgers asked her to sing in English. We are going to do the song in English today, so I'm not sure if that wasn't transfer, if that wasn't really.

[Georgia Howe]

Influential. Pastor John MacArthur has died. He was 86. Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presto Giacomo has the details. MacArthur pastored Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California for 56 years. The pastor wrote more than 400 books, including the bestselling book the Gospel According to Jesus. He and his church attracted national attention after reopening in defiance of local Covid rules. A legal battle resulted in the county and state each paying the church $400,000. MacArthur appeared multiple times on the Ben Shapiro Show Sunday special. On his most recent appearance, MacArthur said that skeptics of Christianity should just read the Bible.

[John Bickley]

Read the Bible, just read the Bible. It has the ring of truth. It defends itself. It's like a lion. You don't defend it. You don't defend a lion. You open the cage and let it out. It'll be okay. And the scripture is like that. It's like that. Even morally, there's something in the heart of people that resonates with biblical morality. Star slugger for the Seattle Mariners Call Raleigh won his first All Star Home Run Derby. He defeated Tampa Bay's Junior Common Arrow, 1815 during the final round on Monday night. Raleigh's father, who is a former coach for both Tennessee and Western Carolina, did the pitching while his younger brother did the catching. Raleigh, who's nicknamed Big Dumper, is the first switch hitter and first catcher to take the win, having reached the All Star break with a whopping 38 home runs. Oh yeah, and he also just happened to be a star at my alma mater, Florida State, before going pro. Raleigh is just the sixth Florida State alumni to make the All Star Game. The first was Dick Hauser way back in 1961.

[Georgia Howe]

And Daily Wire editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro reacted to making a cameo appearance on Family Guy. He wrote on X quote, happy to hear I was on Family Guy last night, but bummed the entire scene didn't make the cut, so watched the end of the clip. In the episode, Brian the dog, who is a liberal, becomes angry after realizing his book is only selling because it's being promoted by conservatives, including Shapiro.

[John Bickley]

My book is being co opted by the right. It's gross and it's selling. It's number two on the Neo Nazi bestseller list behind Ben Shapiro's Tyranny how the Radical Left Made Me Bad at Sex. Oh God, it's that kid and his dog again. Never as good as the Simpsons. Not nearly as smart as South Park. I wonder how Seth still writes this from inside the closet.

[Georgia Howe]

Shapiro's new book, Lions and scavengers, releases on September 2nd.

[John Bickley]

I really want an animated version of myself. Those are your drive home updates. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com and in case you missed it, this morning we covered some major stories, including Trump's warning to Russia, Biden's auto pin controversies, plus the potential headwinds facing the GOP in the midterms. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of Morning Wire.