House Budget Bill Battle & NY’s Wildcat Strike | 2.26.25

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary Episode: House Budget Bill Battle & NY’s Wildcat Strike | 02.26.25
Release Date: February 26, 2025
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe

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1. House Budget Bill Battle: Navigating GOP Divisions

Timestamp: [00:03] - [05:51]

The episode opens with John Bickley announcing a narrow House vote on a concurrent resolution related to the federal budget: “The ayes are 217, the nays are 215. Majority voting in the affirmative. Concurrent resolution is adopted” ([00:03]). This resolution marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing budget battle on Capitol Hill, with significant implications for President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda.

Key Points:

• Budget Resolution Breakdown:
  Cabot Phillips, Daily Wire Senior Editor, details the components of the budget resolution:

  • Tax Cuts: Proposes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, including the renewal of Trump's 2017 tax cuts and potential elimination of taxes on Social Security payments, tips, and overtime ([02:02]).
  • Increased Spending: Allocates an additional $300 billion for defense and the southern border ([02:02]).
  • Future Cuts: Plans for approximately $1.5 trillion in future federal budget cuts, though specifics remain unclear ([02:02]).

• Internal GOP Struggles:
  With a razor-thin majority, Cabot Phillips explains the internal conflicts within the Republican Party:

  • Budget Hawks: Seeking more substantial cuts.
  • Moderates: Favor cuts but aim to protect Medicaid.
  • Foreign Policy Hawks: Support cuts excluding defense spending ([03:00]).

  Ben Shapiro succinctly interjects at [03:19], emphasizing the factional tensions.

• Crucial Vote and Leadership:
  Despite the fragmentation, the resolution narrowly passed with only Thomas Massie voting against it. Massie criticized the resolution for not guaranteeing sufficient spending cuts: “If the Republican plan passes, under the rosiest assumptions... Why would I vote for that?” ([04:16] - [04:39]).
  John Bickley notes President Trump’s extensive lobbying efforts, highlighting his direct phone calls to hesitant GOP members, which played a significant role in securing the passage ([04:39] - [05:01]).

• Next Steps and Senate Challenges:
  The resolution now moves to the Senate, where Brandon Arnold warns of the challenges ahead due to the Senate's requirement for a simple majority to bypass the filibuster ([05:11]). This presents a significant hurdle, especially with the unlikely prospect of securing support from Senate Democrats ([05:11]).

Notable Quotes:

• Brandon Arnold: “This is a fantastic approach to doing so because it not only marries that important concept of getting taxes done, it also begins to chip away at the federal bureaucracy...” ([03:32]).
• Thomas Massie: “Why would I vote for that?” ([04:39]).

2. New York’s Wildcat Strike: Corrections Officers Demand Safety Reforms

Timestamp: [10:10] - [14:48]

Transitioning from federal budgetary battles, the podcast delves into the escalating crisis within New York’s prison system. Georgia Howe and John Bickley discuss the widespread wildcat strike by over 15,000 correction officers across 38 of New York’s 42 prisons.

Key Points:

• Strike Initiation and Growth:
  The strike began on February 17th, initially involving officers from two prisons and rapidly expanding to involve the majority of correctional facilities ([10:33]).
  Amanda Prestis Giacomo, Daily Wire Reporter, explains that this “wildcat strike” is unsanctioned by the official union, the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association ([10:33]).

• Root Causes:

  • Unsafe Working Conditions: Officers cite excessively long mandated shifts, sometimes exceeding 72 hours, and a lack of response from Governor Kathy Hochul and former Governor Andrew Cuomo ([10:33]).
  • Staffing Cuts: A recent memo from the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DoCCS) advised a 30% staff reduction, exacerbating already strained resources ([10:33]).
  • HALT Act Criticism:
    Officers demand the repeal of the HALT Act, a 2022 legislation aimed at reducing solitary confinement. Contrary to its intended purpose, officers argue it has led to increased violence and safety issues within prisons ([11:50] - [13:14]).

• Governor Hochul’s Response:
  In a firm stance, Hochul has:

  • Legal Actions: Sued officers, threatening arrests for those participating in the strike ([13:20]).
  • Deployment of National Guard: 6,500 National Guard members have been sent to manage prisons ([13:31] - [14:12]).
  • Disciplinary Measures: Striking officers face removal of health insurance and pay deductions ([13:31] - [14:12]).

• Public and Political Reactions:
  Personal testimonies highlight the severity of the situation:

  • Sarah Tompkins: Shared her assault experiences and provided photographic evidence of injuries ([11:50]).
  • State Senator Pamela Helming: Cited a female officer’s violent attack, emphasizing the dangerous environment ([12:48]).

• Negotiations and Future Outlook:
  Mediation efforts are underway, with the state proposing increased overtime pay and suspensions of certain HALT Act provisions. However, skepticism remains among officers due to Hochul’s aggressive tactics, leaving the strike unresolved ([14:18] - [14:38]).

Notable Quotes:

• Amanda Prestis Giacomo: “Officers say it's a long overdue response to Hochul and her predecessor Andrew Cuomo, ignoring their complaints about safety...” ([10:33]).
• Sarah Tompkins: “While I was working at Green Haven Correctional Facility last year, an inmate tackled me to the floor and ripped out my hair.” ([12:48]).
• Governor Hochul: “We will go and catch every single one of them until they return to work.” ([13:34]).

3. NSA’s DEI Initiatives Under Scrutiny: Radical Shifts in Federal Agencies

Timestamp: [06:30] - [10:10]

In addition to the main topics, the podcast addresses a significant report on the National Security Agency's (NSA) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, raising concerns about ideological shifts within the agency.

Key Points:

• Bombshell Report by Chris Rufo and Hannah Grossman:
  Ben Shapiro discusses findings from Chris Ruffo and Hannah Grossman of the Manhattan Institute, revealing that the NSA has diverted resources to support and endorse radical, politically biased groups ([06:30] - [07:08]).

• Endorsement of Controversial Discussions:
  The report alleges that the NSA officially endorses chat groups engaging in explicit discussions about gender transition surgeries, labeling them as "fetishes" and intertwining them with work duties ([07:08] - [09:03]).

• Political Targeting:
  These DEI initiatives are purportedly targeting conservatives, including figures like Ben Shapiro and Chaya Raichik. The report claims that these efforts distract from the NSA’s primary mission of national security by focusing excessively on domestic political issues ([09:03] - [09:17]).

• Government Response:
  The Trump administration is reportedly intent on dismantling such DEI programs, aiming to refocus federal agencies on their core missions ([09:47] - [10:02]).

Notable Quotes:

• Ben Shapiro: “The sex chats were legitimized as part of the NSA's commitment to, quote, diversity, equity, and inclusion... The mission of the NSA... would have been endangered...” ([08:21] - [09:03]).
• Chris Ruffo: “These are intelligence officials that should, in theory, be focused on foreign adversaries, but they are very concerned about domestic politics.” ([09:17]).

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Conclusion

In this episode of Morning Wire, hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe explore critical issues impacting both federal legislative processes and state-level labor disputes. The House Budget Bill Battle underscores the deep divisions within the GOP and highlights the challenges of advancing Trump’s agenda amid narrow majorities. Concurrently, New York’s wildcat strike by corrections officers exposes systemic safety concerns and the contentious interplay between labor rights and governmental authority. Additionally, the scrutiny of the NSA’s DEI initiatives raises important questions about the balance between diversity efforts and mission-focused operations within federal agencies. Through thorough analysis and firsthand accounts, Morning Wire delivers a comprehensive overview of these pressing topics.

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Notable Quotes for Reference:

• John Bickley: “Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know.” ([00:58]).
• Christopher Ruffo: “If you're waking up exhausted, that's no way to start your day...” ([01:06]) (Note: This is part of an advertisement and has been summarized as non-content).
• Brandon Arnold: “...locking in Trump's tax cuts... and begins to chip away at the federal bureaucracy...” ([03:32]).
• Thomas Massie: “Why would I vote for that?” ([04:16]).
• Ben Shapiro: “...turn their kinks and pathologies into official work duties...” ([08:21]).

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This summary is intended to provide a comprehensive overview of the episode's main discussions, key points, and significant quotes, ensuring clarity and depth for listeners and non-listeners alike.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

The ayes are 217, the nays are 215. Majority voting in the affirmative. Concurrent resolution is adopted. The budget battle comes to a head on Capitol Hill with Trump ramping up pressure on House members.

[Georgia Howe]

What are the issues driving a wedge between lawmakers?

[John Bickley]

I'm Daily Wire Editor in Chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Wednesday, February 26th, and this is Morning Wire. A new bombshell report on the NSA's controversial DEI initiatives heightens scrutiny on the federal agency.

[Chris Ruffo]

If you were at any private corporation, if you were doing this in the work chat, you would be packed up and gone within hours.

[Georgia Howe]

And New York's governor sends in the National Guard to run the prisons as thousands of corrections officers hit the picket lines.

[Amanda Prestis Giacomo]

The general public does not know how dangerous this job has become.

[John Bickley]

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

[Tim Rice]

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[Georgia Howe]

House Speaker Mike Johnson has worked furiously to wrangle votes from Republicans to pass a crucial spending resolution that will help fund much of Donald Trump's domestic agenda.

[John Bickley]

Here to break down the budget battle in D.C. is daily wire senior editor Cabot Phillips, a Cabot. So, a contentious few days on the Hill. Let's start with some details on what exactly is in this space spending package.

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah, I know, John. A lot of people hear the words budget resolution and their eyes gloss over. It's certainly not the sexiest topic, but it is hugely consequential. For weeks now, Republicans have been putting together a massive spending resolution that'll lay the framework for funding some of Trump's big ticket campaign promises. The heart of the plan contains three major focuses. First, it calls for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, including renewing President Trump's 2017 tax cuts and also paving the way to eliminate taxes on Social Security payments, tips and overtime. Next, it includes a $300 billion increase in spending for defense and the southern border. Finally, in its current stage, the resolution calls for around 1.5 trillion in future cuts to the federal budget, though it's not yet clear exactly where those cuts.

[John Bickley]

Would come from right now. The big struggle here, of course, is within the GOP itself with its razor thin majority. Tell us about the fight to get this the finish line.

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah. Because Republicans hold such a small majority, they could only afford to lose a few votes to get this thing passed. That led Speaker Johnson scrambling to appease each wing of the gop. The budget hawks want more cuts. The moderates support cuts but want to protect Medicaid. The foreign policy hawks want cuts, just not for defense spending. You get the idea.

[Ben Shapiro]

Yeah.

[Cabot Phillips]

Supporters of the resolution are basically saying, don't make perfect the enemy of good. This moves us in the right direction. I spoke with Brandon Arnold, executive director of the National Taxpayers Union. He's in that camp. Here's what he had to say in.

[Brandon Arnold]

Terms of what's achievable in Congress and gets this process going, of locking in Trump's tax cuts, most of which are going to expire at the end of the year. This is a fantastic approach to doing so because it not only marries that important concept of getting taxes done, it also begins to chip away at the federal bureaucracy, at the waste, fraud, and abuse within the federal government.

[Cabot Phillips]

Now, coming into Tuesday morning, it looked like everyone in the GOP caucus was finally getting on board. But a handful of hardline conservative members put their foot down, saying the plan was a good starting point, but did not offer enough guaranteed cuts. Leading the charge was Kentucky Republican Thomas Massie, who said there weren't enough assurances that the resolution would actually cut spending.

[Chris Ruffo]

If the Republican plan passes, under the rosiest assumptions, which aren't even true, we're going to add $328 billion to the deficit this year. We're going to add $295 billion to the deficit the year after that, and $242 billion to the deficit after that. Under the rosiest assumptions. Why would I vote for that?

[Cabot Phillips]

In the end, though, Massie was the only Republican who voted no. All the other GOP members who were on the fence got on board and the measure was passed 217 to 215. It was a major victory for Speaker Mike Johnson and for Donald Trump. It's worth noting the President was on the phone all day calling Republicans on the fence, telling them to fall. That pressure campaign obviously helped.

[John Bickley]

Yeah.

[Cabot Phillips]

Now that the resolution has passed the House, the Senate will also have to approve it with a simple majority vote. And again, that could be difficult. Here's Arnold explaining why right now there's.

[Brandon Arnold]

A lot of space between where the House is at and where the Senate is. The reason they're doing this kind of obscure, arcane song and dance is because it obviates the need for a 60 vote threshold in the Senate. They can bypass the filibuster and get a bill to the president's desk with a simple majority in both the Senate and the House. So that gives us a lot more flexibility in a Senate, of course, that has 53 Republicans and would be really, really hard to find seven Senate Democrats that want to see Trump's policies enacted into law.

[John Bickley]

Well, a lot to keep an eye on in Washington. Cabot, thanks so much for reporting.

[Cabot Phillips]

Anytime.

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[John Bickley]

Newly disclosed documents reveal the extent to which DEI initiatives in the federal government have shifted the mission of key agencies pushing radical ideology and political targeting, including even agencies tasked with national defense.

[Georgia Howe]

In an exclusive interview this week with Daily Wire editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro, the Manhattan Institute's Chris Ruffo detailed evidence of troubling mission shift at the National Security Agency. Joining us to discuss is Daily Wire Deputy Managing Editor Tim Rice. So, Tim, another bombshell report from Rufo, this time with co author Hannah Grossman of the Manhattan Institute. What exactly are they alleging?

[John Bickley]

Yeah.

[Ben Shapiro]

Hey, Georgia. So this is another rather shocking report about how government resources are being used, or in this case, abused. And as usual, Rufo and Grossman have the receipts. So as you noted, this has to do with the nsa, the National Security Agency, which is supposed to be dedicating all of its time to the crucial job of, well, national security. But as Rufo and Grossman found, the agency has been officially allowing and even endorsing extremely radical and politically biased groups. And that includes chat groups, some whistleblowers with access to these chats, one current and one former NSA Employee provided Rufo's team with evidence of their content. And frankly, some of it is too not safe for work to detail on this show. But let's just say that it includes graphic discussions about gender transition surgeries, so called bottom and surgeries, specifically discussing them in terms of fetishes. And again, this is under officially endorsed chat rooms, and these conversations are taking place while the federal employees are supposedly working.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, are these discussions themselves actually endorsed by higher ups?

[Ben Shapiro]

Yes, and Shapiro and Rufo underscored that point. Here's Shapiro.

[I]

The sex chats were legitimized as part of the NSA's commitment to, quote, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Activists within the agency used LGBTQ employee resource groups to turn their kinks and pathologies into official work duties. According to the current NSA employee, these groups, quote, spent all day recruiting activists and holding meetings with titles such as Privilege, Ally Awareness, Pride, and Transgender Community Inclusion. And the NSA leadership supported every aspect of this, declaring the DEI was, quote, not only mission critical, but mission imperative. Yes, the mission of the NSA monitoring foreign terror threats. That mission would have been endangered if we did not have intelligent chats between various agents discussing the pleasures of polyamory.

[Ben Shapiro]

Rufo also made clear that these federally funded groups engaged not only in not safe for work discussions with official approval, but also engaged in extremely partisan targeting of conservatives here in the United States, including Shapiro himself.

[Chris Ruffo]

These are intelligence officials that should, in theory, be focused on foreign adversaries, but they are very concerned about domestic politics. And so it's not just about their hormones, their genital surgeries. They have vitriolic feelings towards conservatives in particular. Two names that came up, of course, were Chaya Raichik of Libs of TikTok fame and the one and only Ben Shapiro. And they were going ballistic. I mean, they said at one point that you should be expelled for the tribe for constantly spouting hate speech.

[Ben Shapiro]

So, again, clear evidence of political targeting. As we've documented on this show, the Trump administration is heavily focusing on weeding out just these kinds of DEI programs and activist groups. So they've been vowing to shut down exactly this kind of activity in federal agencies.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, it won't go away overnight. Tim, thanks for reporting.

[Ben Shapiro]

You bet.

[Georgia Howe]

Following a rise in violent incidents inside New York prisons, correction officers and sergeants from across the state are on strike over unsafe working conditions. Battling Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul for reforms.

[John Bickley]

Here with more is Daily Wire reporter Amanda Prestis Giacomo. Hey, Amanda. So first, give us some background. When did this strike start and what led up to it?

[Amanda Prestis Giacomo]

So the strike started on the 17th with officers from two New York prisons striking over unsafe conditions. The movement quickly swelled in Support and now nine out of 10 officers, about 15,000 total from 38 of the state's 42 prisons, are now participating in the strike. Notably, the strike has not been sanctioned by the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent association, which is the government affiliated union for corrections officers that makes this a so called wildcat strike. Governor Hochul has repeatedly called the strike illegal, citing violation of the Taylor law. Now, as for the timing of all of this, officers say it's a long overdue response to Hochul and her predecessor Andrew Cuomo, ignoring their complaints about safety in mandated work shifts that, according to officers, can exceed 72 hours at times. Additionally, just days before the strike, officials locked down the Collins Correctional Facility in Erie county due to an inmate uprising. There was also a memo circulated by the Department of Corrections and community supervision, the DOCCs, advising prison superintendents to effectively cut 30% of staff by the end of the month. Though the DoCCS has since said that that would mostly apply to vacant positions.

[John Bickley]

All right, so proposed staffing cuts to the already understaffed. Though some of these positions are vacant. What exactly are officers demanding here?

[Amanda Prestis Giacomo]

Well, first and foremost, they want prison reform legislation called the HALT act to be repealed. That went into effect in 2022, and it mandates what proponents say are more humane alternatives to solitary confinement, while also limiting which inmates can be placed in solitary at all. Officers and their supporters say the legislation has not worked and it's made prisons less safe for everyone. They've cited DoCCS stats saying that since the HALT act was implemented, there's been a 169% increase in inmate on in assaults, a 76% rise in inmate on staff assaults, and a 32% bump in contraband cases. Officers have made it very clear that they want changes to be made to guarantee their safety. Those on strike have generally refrained from speaking to the media out of fear of retribution, but some have taken to message boards to voice their concerns. For example, a woman named Sarah Tompkins said that while she was working at Green Haven Correctional Facility last year, an inmate tackled her to the floor and ripped out her hair. She provided photos of her injuries. A male officer also shared photos of on the job injuries, writing quote, I got punched in the face three times in a 30 day span. Republican State Senator Pamela Helming said that earlier this month, a female officer at Groveland Correctional Facility was sitting at her desk when an inmate attacked her. She was choked, punched and kicked in the face. And a retired female officer said that she was sexually assaulted by an inmate in 2022 and never returned to work.

[John Bickley]

It's just horrifying. And what's Hochul's position on all of this? What has she done so far?

[Amanda Prestis Giacomo]

So Hochul sued officers for the strike, and over the weekend, she directed state troopers to serve papers to hundreds of officers so far threatening them with arrest. Here's Hochul at a press conference on Tuesday.

[Brandon Arnold]

Has anyone been arrested?

[Amanda Prestis Giacomo]

And if not, the proceedings. The proceedings have started. I think we have 380 people on the first list through the Attorney General's office, and they're being served by state police as we speak. This is in violation of law. The Deputy Secretary of Public Safety added, quote, we will go and catch every single one of them until they return to work. Now, the governor has deployed 6,500 National Guard members to run the prisons during the strike. She's also working to consolidate inmates, putting more inmates inside each prison due to the lack of coverage. She's also taken away striking officers health insurance. And the DoCCS is docking two days of pay for every day an officer remains on strike.

[John Bickley]

So pretty harsh punishments there. And is there any end in sight? What's going on with negotiations?

[Amanda Prestis Giacomo]

Well, mediation between the two sides began on Monday with a reported offer from the state for two times the hourly rate for overtime, the nixing of that controversial staff reduction memo and suspension to certain provisions in the HALT Act. Officers, though, are reportedly skeptical of promised concessions due to Hochul's comments and actions. And so far, no deal has been reached.

[John Bickley]

Oh, so thank. Don't get uglier. Before this is resolved, we'll be tracking what happens next. Amanda, thanks so much for reporting.

[Amanda Prestis Giacomo]

You're welcome.

[Georgia Howe]

Thanks for waking up with us. And if you enjoyed what you heard this morning, please consider sharing this episode with a friend.