Morning Wire Podcast Summary
Episode: Inflation Cools Down & Education Department Downsizes
Release Date: March 13, 2025
1. Inflation Trends and Trump's Tariffs
Georgia Howe opens the episode by highlighting a positive development in the U.S. economy: inflation is cooling more than economists anticipated, coinciding with the implementation of former President Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum.
Notable Quotes:
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John Bickley [00:09]: "The president wants steel and aluminum in America. And let me be clear, nothing's going to stop that until we've got a big, strong domestic steel and aluminum capability."
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Cabot Phillips [02:11]: "According to the Labor Department's monthly inflation report... the Consumer Price Index... rose 2.8% from the same month last year and just 0.2% from the month before. Both of those numbers were better than expectations..."
The discussion delves into the specifics of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), noting a significant annual decrease in inflation rates and the positive impact on housing costs, which saw the smallest yearly increase since 2021.
Economic Strategies and Reactions:
White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt [02:45]: "The cost of eggs is going down. Cost of gasoline is going down because of the massive deregulatory efforts of this president and also the fact that we are delivering on his promise to drill, baby, drill already."
Despite these encouraging signs, Georgia Howe raises concerns about the sustainability of this trend, particularly in light of newly imposed tariffs.
Trade War Impact:
Cabot Phillips [03:35]: "These numbers do reflect February data that came in before President Trump ratcheted up his trade war with Canada, Mexico, Europe and China..."
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick [04:51]: Emphasizes that tariffs might cause short-term price increases but are intended to boost long-term demand for American-made products.
John Bickley [04:51]: "Inflation comes from a government printing too much money, the Biden administration having a $2 trillion deficit..."
E.J., Heritage Economist [05:26]: "Everyone said the sky was falling when Trump implemented tariffs in his first term, and most consumers saw no difference at all."
Public Opinion:
Recent polls indicate a dip in President Trump's approval regarding his economic handling, with a CNN poll citing a 44% approval rate—12 points below previous standings.
Cabot Phillips [06:02]: "There is a risk the President could lose support on the issue where he's typically been the most popular."
2. Department of Education Downsizing
The podcast transitions to a significant shift in the Department of Education, with nearly half of its workforce being terminated as the administration moves towards potentially dissolving the agency.
Key Developments:
Linda McMahon [07:02]: "Things kicked off late Tuesday when Education Department staff across the country were told to stay home..."
Donald Trump [07:58]: "Road to a total shutdown? Yes, actually it is, because that was the President's mandate."
Impact on Education:
Linda McMahon [07:56]: The layoffs aim to enhance efficiency and redirect resources to essential areas like student loans and programs for special needs without affecting these critical services.
Targeted Cuts:
The initial round of cuts is primarily aimed at the Office of Civil Rights, responsible for enforcing Title IX policies, including controversial issues like gender-neutral bathrooms.
Linda McMahon [08:24]: "We want to stop the abuse of your taxpayer dollars to indoctrinate America's youth."
Financial Adjustments:
$600 million in grants for training teachers in social justice and anti-racism initiatives have been cut, with future reductions expected as the department reorganizes.
3. Escalating Violence in Syria
Georgia Howe and Tim Rice bring attention to the deteriorating situation in Syria, where religious minorities are facing severe persecution under the new Islamist extremist leadership.
Situation Overview:
Megan Basham [10:05]: "HTS is Sunni like 70% of the rest of Syria... targeting provinces known for Alawite and Christian populations."
Human Rights Violations:
Reports indicate that over 1,300 Christians and Alawites have been killed recently, with entire families being massacred and properties seized.
Personal Accounts:
Survivors describe horrifying scenes of militant violence, including beheadings and indiscriminate killings.
International Responses:
- United Nations: Calls for immediate action to protect civilians.
- US Government: Condemns the killings, attributing them to radical Islamic terrorists.
- Israeli Defense Minister: Criticizes Syria's new leadership, urging intervention.
Historical Context:
Donald Trump [13:13]: Criticizes past U.S. involvement in Syria, suggesting that supporting certain rebel groups led to worse outcomes than the Assad regime.
Current Leadership:
Ahmad Al Sharra, Syria’s new president, is identified as a former member of ISIS and Al Qaeda, raising concerns about the future stability and inclusivity of his administration.
4. Government Shutdown Threat
The episode concludes with an update on the looming threat of a U.S. government shutdown due to legislative stalemate.
Legislative Stalemate:
Tim Rice [14:22]: "Senate Democrats say they're going to block the House passed funding bill... Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is pushing for a one-month extension..."
Potential Outcomes:
Without a resolution by Friday, a partial government shutdown becomes imminent, as Republicans advocate for a six-month funding plan endorsed by Trump, while Democrats seek continued negotiations.
Conclusion
In this episode of Morning Wire, hosts Georgia Howe and John Bickley provide a comprehensive overview of significant developments affecting the U.S. economy, education sector, international relations, and governmental operations. With expert analyses and firsthand reports, listeners gain insight into the complexities of current events shaping the nation and the world.
For more detailed discussions and updates, consider listening to the full episode of Morning Wire by The Daily Wire.