Military Recruitment Up & RFK Targets Food Dyes | 4.24.25

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary Episode: Military Recruitment Up & RFK Targets Food Dyes | 4.24.25 Release Date: April 24, 2025

---

Introduction In this episode of Morning Wire, hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe delve into significant developments in military recruitment, the Trump administration's initiatives on synthetic food dyes, and the ongoing tensions between President Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The discussion is enriched with expert insights and notable quotes, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of current political and social issues.

---

1. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Under Scrutiny

Overview Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces increasing criticism amidst allegations of misconduct and information leaks. Despite the mounting pressure, President Donald Trump publicly supports Hegseth, emphasizing his effective leadership.

Key Points:

• Public Pressure on Hegseth: Georgia Howe introduces the topic by highlighting the continued criticism of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, despite President Trump's support.

• Trump's Support: At [00:08], President Trump asserts, "Pete's doing a great job. Everybody's happy with him." This unwavering support is crucial in maintaining Hegseth's position amidst controversy.

• Allegations Against Hegseth: Senior editors Cabot Phillips discusses the tumultuous tenure of Hegseth, mentioning incidents such as the firing of senior Pentagon advisors and allegations of Hegseth sharing sensitive information (Timestamp: [01:58]).

• Political Backing: Both Trump and Senator J.D. Vance publicly defend Hegseth, reinforcing his standing within the administration ([01:58]).

Notable Quote:

"These recruiting numbers don't surprise me. They don't surprise me one bit. They're a reflection of a yearning from the American public of young people to be proud of their country, to be proud of their military, to make sure when they serve, they're given everything they need."
— Pete Hegseth ([05:14])

---

2. Surge in Military Recruitment

Overview After years of declining numbers, military recruitment has experienced a significant resurgence. Experts analyze the factors contributing to this positive trend.

Key Points:

• Historical Decline and Recent Rebound: John Bickley notes the rebound in military recruitment, reversing previous years of decline ([00:12]). Cabot Phillips provides detailed statistics, highlighting that every branch of the military is on track to surpass recruitment goals for fiscal year 2025 ([03:39]).

• Factors Driving the Surge: The resurgence is attributed to enhanced enlistment bonuses, preparatory programs for potential recruits, and the administration's patriotic messaging under President Trump ([04:16]).

• Economic and Social Influences: Recruitment increases are also linked to the demographic trend of Republicans being more likely to enlist, with polls indicating a significant Republican majority within the military ranks ([05:28]).

• Impact of Leadership Messaging: Trump emphasizes the importance of national pride in boosting recruitment numbers, stating at [04:44], "Enrollment in the military is at a record. We're setting records. And six months ago we couldn't get anybody and now we're setting records."

Notable Quotes:

"We've seen momentum unlike anything in a decade."
— Army Vice Chief of Staff James Mingus ([04:12])

"No more diversity training. We believe the real strength and the real diversity in the United States Marine Corps is that you all come from every walk of life, come from every corner of America, and you have got the strength and the purpose to win the nation's wars."
— Pete Hegseth ([05:59])

---

3. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Targets Synthetic Food Dyes and Sugar

Overview HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announces a bold initiative to phase out synthetic food dyes and address the harmful effects of sugar consumption, aiming to improve public health, especially among children.

Key Points:

• Phasing Out Synthetic Dyes: Amanda Presto Giacomo reports that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) plans to ban eight petroleum-based synthetic food dyes by the end of 2026, including Red Dye No. 3, Red 40, Blue 1, Yellow 5 and 6, and Green 3 ([07:29]).

• Implementation Strategy: The plan involves collaborating with food companies to establish national standards and timelines for eliminating these dyes. Additionally, HHS will revoke authorization for Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B in the coming months ([07:29]).

• Health Concerns: Dr. Marty Makary highlights the severe health risks associated with synthetic dyes, such as cancer, ADHD, obesity, and allergic reactions ([09:01]). Kennedy criticizes the lack of comprehensive studies on food additives, attributing it to conflicts of interest within the scientific community ([09:34]).

• Addressing Sugar Consumption: Kennedy vehemently criticizes sugar, describing it as "addictive as crack" and "poison" ([09:34]). While acknowledging the difficulty in banning sugar, he urges parents to recognize its harmful effects.

• Industry and Public Response: Food companies are engaging with HHS to comply with the bans, recognizing the complications of having inconsistent state-level regulations ([10:01]). Kennedy lauds the role of "warrior moms" in driving the MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) movement, emphasizing the ongoing battle to eliminate harmful additives ([10:38]).

Notable Quotes:

"Sugar is poison and Americans need to know that it is poisoning us."
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ([00:35])

"These recruiting numbers don't surprise me. They don't surprise me one bit..."
— Pete Hegseth ([05:14])

"Warrior moms who have powered the Maha movement. It's not the time to stop, it's the time to redouble your efforts because we have them on the run now and we are going to win this battle."
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ([10:38])

---

4. Trump’s Stance on Fed Chair Powell and Market Reactions

Overview President Trump's decision to refrain from removing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has had a positive impact on the stock market, alleviating investor concerns and reducing uncertainty.

Key Points:

• Market Surge: Following Trump's statement that he has no intention of firing Powell ([00:46]), stock markets responded favorably, with significant increases in the S&P, Dow, and Nasdaq indices ([11:08]).

• Expert Analysis: Economist E.J. Antoni from the Heritage Foundation discusses the stabilization of trade policies under Trump and the reduction of market uncertainty as key factors contributing to the stock market's positive performance ([11:46]).

• Fed and Political Dynamics: Antoni criticizes the Federal Reserve for prioritizing political considerations over sound economic policies, suggesting that the Fed's actions have diminished credibility among markets ([13:31]).

• Future Implications: The episode underscores the importance of predictable and stable policies in maintaining market confidence, with Trump’s adherence to his promise of not interfering with the Fed seen as a move that restores some level of certainty for investors ([12:58]).

Notable Quotes:

"We have the highest recruitment, recruitment numbers I think they've had in 28 years. It's just fake news."
— Donald Trump ([02:38])

"Markets really hate uncertainty, full stop. Even if you're going to get bad news, if it's at least certain, you know, you can prepare, you can plan..."
— E.J. Antoni ([12:58])

"The real problem has been the uncertainty. The market doesn't really like Jerome Powell, but the idea of removing him creates a tremendous amount of uncertainty."
— E.J. Antoni ([13:31])

---

Conclusion This episode of Morning Wire provides an in-depth analysis of pivotal issues affecting national security, public health, and economic stability. From the support of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amidst controversies to the encouraging rise in military recruitment, and from the aggressive health reforms proposed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to the positive stock market reactions to Trump’s stance on Fed Chair Powell, the podcast offers listeners a nuanced understanding of the current political landscape and its broader implications.

---

Thank you for reading this summary of the Morning Wire podcast episode. Stay informed with Morning Wire for more insights into the latest developments in politics, culture, education, sports, and more.

Transcript

[Georgia Howe]

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth continues to take fire, but the commander in chief is standing by him.

[Donald Trump]

Pete's doing a great job. Everybody's happy with him.

[John Bickley]

Meanwhile, military recruitment rebounds after years of decline.

[Georgia Howe]

I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire editor in Chief John Bickley. It's Thursday, April 24th, and this is MORNING Wire. The Trump administration is taking steps to phase out eight synthetic food dyes and issuing warnings about a popular ingredient.

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

Sugar is poison and Americans need to know that it is poisoning us.

[John Bickley]

And Trump de escalates backing off tariffs and his attacks on the Fed sending stocks surging.

[Donald Trump]

I would like to see him lower interest rates. This is a perfect time to lower interest rates. But no, I have no intention to fire him.

[Georgia Howe]

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

[Brandon]

Did you know there's a victim of identity theft every six seconds?

[E.J. Antoni]

Really?

[Brandon]

Yep. Listen to this offer from Identity Guard. Identity Guard is offering our listeners a 30 day free trial and 60 off when you go to identityguard.com wire. That's 30 days free and 60 [e-mail] wire. That is less than what you're paying for that streaming service you forgot to cancel this month. That's I-E-N-T-I-T-Y-G-U-A-R-D.com wired to sign up for a 30 day free trial and get 60% off. Certain terms apply. CSight for details.

[Georgia Howe]

President Trump is standing by embattled Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as new data shows soaring military recruitment after years of decline.

[John Bickley]

Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips is here to break down the trend and what's behind it. Hey, Cabot. So we'll get to these recruitment numbers in a second, but let's start with Secretary of Defense Hegseth, who is once again facing public pressure. What's the latest there?

[Cabot Phillips]

Well, there's no doubt his tenure at DoD has been tumultuous so far. First, there was what Democrats refer to as signal gate. Then last week, a number of senior advisors at the Pentagon were fired after an investigation allegedly found they'd been leaking sensitive information to the press. And this week, the negative stories continued after the New York Times reported Hegseth had allegedly shared details of airstrikes on Yemen in a separate signal chat that included his wife and brother. Now Hegseth's team says his wife is a trusted confidant, and then his brother works at the Pentagon. But the story gave yet more fodder to those who want him Let go. But importantly, Donald Trump and J.D. vance have stood by Hegsett's side, offering their support publicly.

[Donald Trump]

We have the highest recruitment, recruitment numbers I think they've had in 28 years. It's just fake news. They just bring up stories. I guess it sounds like disgruntled employees. You know, he was put there to get rid of a lot of bad people and that's what he's doing. So you don't always have friends when you do that.

[John Bickley]

Now, Trump mentioned there those recruitment numbers. What are we seeing on that front?

[Cabot Phillips]

Well, Jon, we're seeing a stunning turnaround. Overall. Recruitment started to dip in 2021 and 22. And by 2023, the Pentagon was in a full blown crisis. That year, The army fell 25% short of their recruitment goal. The Navy was 20% below target. And the Air Force failed to reach their goal for the first time in nearly 25 years, falling 10% short. 2024 did see a slight rebound with the Air Force and Army hitting their target numbers. But it's worth noting the army lowered their goal that year by 15%. So the numbers are a bit deceiving. And the Navy still fell about 10% short of their target.

[John Bickley]

But that all appears to be really changing now. Tell us what we've seen so far this year.

[Cabot Phillips]

Yes. Six months into fiscal year 2025, every single branch is on pace to smash their recruiting goals. The Navy is tracking towards their best year in two decades. The Air Force has seen a 20% spike compared to last year. And the army, their only problem is finding enough space for all their new recruits. Last year, they had 55,000 enlistments. With six months to go, they're already at 52,000. After years of falling short, they could now double their target in 2025, according to Army Vice Chief of Staff James Mingus. Quote, we've seen momentum unlike anything in a decade.

[John Bickley]

It really is remarkable. What's behind this dramatic spike?

[Cabot Phillips]

Well, it depends on who you ask. Some say it's a reflection of larger enlistment bonuses and Pentagon efforts to work with potential recruits who in years past may have been rejected. For example, the army and Navy each implemented prep courses to help enlistees get in better shape physically or prepare for the entrance exam. The White House says the explanation, though, is simple. Young people are rallying around President Trump's patriotic outlook and are responding to his reorienting of the military. Here he is this week from the White House.

[Donald Trump]

Since November 5th, it's all happened. Enrollment in the military is at a record. We're setting records. And six months ago we couldn't get anybody and now we're setting records. That's sort of testament to what's happening in terms of the spirit of our country now.

[Cabot Phillips]

Hexeth has been adamant for years that young people were being turned off by the military's embrace of wokeness and that the Pentagon was more focused on diversity, equity and inclusion than they were creating war fighters. Here he is on FOX this week.

[Pete Hegseth]

These recruiting numbers don't surprise me. They don't surprise me one bit. They're a reflection of a yearning from the American public of young people to be proud of their country, to be proud of their military, to make sure when they serve, they're given everything they need.

[Cabot Phillips]

And look, it makes sense that politics would play a role given the fact that Republicans are far more likely to enlist. According to virtually every poll we have over the last decade, Republicans outnumber Democrats by about 2 to 1 in our military. Pew, for example, reports that just 26% of active duty service members are Democrats. So you can see why a more conservative message coming from the White House and Pentagon could have an impact on folks wanting to sign up. To give you an idea of that new message, have a listen to this video featuring JD Vance, which the White House called the newest Marine recruitment ad.

[Pete Hegseth]

No more diversity training. We believe the real strength and the real diversity in the United States Marine Corps is that you all come from every walk of life, come from every corner of America, and you have got the strength and the purpose to win the nation's wars.

[Cabot Phillips]

And again, that message does seem to be resonating. The latest numbers from the Reagan National Defense Survey showed that this year Americans confidence in the military jumped up 6%. That represents the first time that number has gone up since 2018.

[John Bickley]

Well, remarkable to see that trend reversing so quickly. Cabot, thanks so much for reporting.

[Cabot Phillips]

Absolutely.

[Brandon]

Hey guys, producer Brandon here. I want to introduce you to Beam's Dream Powder. It's a healthy nighttime blend packed with science backed ingredients shown to improve sleep so you can wake up refreshed. Dream is made with powerful all natural ingredients such as Reishi magnesium and L theanine, among others. Try Beam's best selling Dream powder and get up to 40% off for a limited time. Head over to shopbeam.com wire and use code wire at checkout. That's shop B-E-A-M.com wire and use code wire for up to 40% off.

[John Bickley]

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Wants to phase out numerous artificial food dyes and colorings by the end of 2026.

[Georgia Howe]

Here to explain the plan is Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presto Giacomo. So Amanda RFK is moving very quickly to implement the Make America Healthy Again agenda, starting with American food. So first, what exactly is he trying to ban?

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Right. So the Department of Health and Human Services is banning petroleum based synthetic dyes. That would be red dye number three and red 40, blue one and yellow five and six and green three. Now, those are very common in cereals, candy, baked goods, soft drinks, and other junk foods that are commonly consumed by children. HHS is implementing a number of steps to make this happen. First, they're going to work with food companies to establish a national standard and a timeline to move away from these petrochemical based dyes. They want them phased out at the latest by the end of next year. And the department is also going to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings, citrus red no. 2 and orange B. That will happen even sooner in the coming months. Now, red dye number three was banned by the FDA at the very end of the Biden administration, but the timeline on that phase out is years from now. Kennedy said he's looking to speed that up. HHS will also be partnering with the National Institutes of Health to conduct comprehensive research on how these dyes impact children's health and development.

[Georgia Howe]

So what are the main concerns with these synthetic dyes?

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Yeah, so obviously more research is now underway, but we already know that red dye three, for example, that caused cancer in lab rats. It was also banned From Cosmetic Products 35 years ago over cancer risks. The dye was recently banned in California and the FDA moved on it nationally in January. Most of these dyes have long been banned in places like Europe and Canada. FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, who joined Kennedy at a press conference on Tuesday, he spoke about the risks tied to these dyes.

[Dr. Marty Makary]

For the last 50 years, American children have increasingly been living in a toxic soup of synthetic chemicals. The scientific community has conducted a number of studies raising concerns about the correlation between petroleum based synthetic dyes and several health conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obesity, diabetes, insulin resistance, cancer, genomic disruption, GI issues, as I've seen in the hospital, and allergic reactions.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Secretary Kennedy said that there are shockingly few studies on food additives and food dyes specifically. And he suggested that that was because of conflicts of interest, suppressing the science. RFK also warned the public about sugar. He said he's not able to ban that, but he wants parents to understand how harmful and addictive it is. He said it's addictive as crack and he called it poison.

[Georgia Howe]

So strong words there. Now, what kind of response have we seen from the food industry?

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Well, Kennedy did say that food companies are coming to the table to work out timelines on these bans. Now, that is going to cost them money to phase this stuff out. But having inconsistent standards in different states would be even worse for these companies. It would be challenging to market nationally and to adhere to different state regulations. But Kennedy said that it was actually those local bans that brought these food companies to the table. It gave HHS leverage to make demands of these companies at the national level. Kennedy as well as Dr. Makary also acknowledged that it was moms across the country who were really the engine of the Maha movement and they're responsible for a lot of this swift change, the.

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

Warrior moms who have powered the Maha movement. It's not the time to stop, is the time to redouble your efforts because we have them on the run now and we are going to win this battle. And four years from now, we're going to have most of these products off the market or you will know about them when you go to the grocery store.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, this was a huge campaign promise and I'm glad to see it happening. Amanda, thanks for reporting.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

You're welcome.

[Georgia Howe]

Stocks soared Wednesday after reports that President Trump has no intention of removing Fed Chair Jerome Powell. The S and P Dow and Nasdaq closing the day up multiple points.

[John Bickley]

Joining us now to discuss the latest on the market and how trade deals and the Fed factor in, as economist E.J. antoni of the Heritage Foundation. E.J. thank you so much for joining us.

[E.J. Antoni]

Oh, my pleasure. Thank you for having me.

[John Bickley]

Look, we've seen a clear de escalation in terms of tariffs from the Trump administration. There's been a lot of public negotiating going on from Trump and his team, including some mixed messages over the last few weeks. First, what are you seeing right now with the Trump trade policies?

[E.J. Antoni]

Well, a couple of things. One is, I think, a resolution to a lot of that mixed messaging that you mentioned.

[John Bickley]

Right.

[E.J. Antoni]

I mean, it was frankly chaos to start. A lot of that is getting resolved. Not all of it, but a lot of it. So that's really good. It's a very welcome development to have Trump and Besant really taking the lead in terms of negotiations. So less so. Greer Navarro Lutnick, that's all a really welcome development. Again, in terms of the DS escalation, I think what we're looking for there is essentially agreements one by one just getting hammered out and eventually signed. It looks like trade deals, reducing tariff and non tariff barriers, which is very, very important. And so as those deals get done, as the details get ironed out, we can look for more free trade, not less. We can look for fairer trade. In other words, not only are American consumer markets still open to foreign producers, but finally, foreign consumer markets will be open to our domestic producers.

[John Bickley]

Now, as Georgia mentioned, after the president said he's not interested in removing the Fed chair, the stock market surged yesterday. Are there signs of more confidence now in the approach of the Trump administration or not?

[E.J. Antoni]

Well, at the end of the day, markets really hate uncertainty, full stop. Even if you're going to get bad news, if it's at least certain, you know, you can prepare, you can plan, whether on the consumer side or the firm side, it doesn't matter. So the real problem has been the uncertainty. The market doesn't really like Jerome Powell, but the idea of removing him creates a tremendous amount of uncertainty. And that's the last thing markets need right now on top of the uncertainty they already have. And so once Trump dropped the rhetoric about removing Powell, the Dow rallied.

[John Bickley]

How important is this tug of war between Trump and Powell? How directly are the Fed's actions actually tied to the markets?

[E.J. Antoni]

Well, unfortunately, the Fed really has just been putting politics before policy. They talk about how they're data dependent. As far as I can tell, the only data they're really paying attention to is whether the president is a Republican or a Democrat. When the Fed cut interest rates last year, again right around the election, we saw 100 basis points of cuts. And then the yield on Treasuries moved exactly the opposite direction. It went up 100 basis points. So as markets increasingly don't believe the Fed, whether that's looking at inflation predictions or employment predictions, what the Fed does is mattering less and less. And so markets, I think are much more today focused on what's happening with tariffs, what's happening with the tax cut package. Is that actually going to get across the finish line? Because don't forget that's 10 times the size of the tariffs if we're looking at impact on the consumer. So there's a whole lot up in the air right now. And although the Fed is one of those balls being juggled by the market, it's not the only thing, and I would say it's not even the biggest.

[John Bickley]

EJ And Tony, thanks so much for joining us.

[E.J. Antoni]

Yeah, absolutely, my pleasure.

[John Bickley]

Thanks for waking up with us. We'll be back this afternoon with more news you need to know.