Nashville Mayor Investigated & Europe’s Speech Police | 5.29.25

Summary

Morning Wire Episode Summary: "Nashville Mayor Investigated & Europe’s Speech Police | 5.29.25"

Release Date: May 29, 2025
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe
Podcast: Morning Wire by The Daily Wire

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1. Investigating Nashville Mayor’s Obstruction of ICE

[00:04] Georgia Howe: Nashville's mayor is under investigation for obstructing ICE.

[00:08] Congressman Andy Ogles: "Now you can have a woke mayor who wants to cry and whine in his Cheerios about it. But I'm going to say we're going to stand with the President, we're going to stand with Pam Bondi, we're going to stand with ICE. Heck, I'll go out there and I'll help ICE."

John Bickley and Georgia Howe delve into the recent developments in Nashville, where Mayor Freddie O'Connell is under scrutiny for allegedly hindering Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. Congressman Andy Ogles, a member of the Homeland Security Committee, spearheads the investigation, accusing city officials of actively obstructing ICE’s efforts to deport criminal illegal immigrants.

Key Points:

• Executive Orders: Mayor O'Connell issued an executive order mandating local law enforcement to report all interactions with federal authorities, simultaneously encouraging citizens to file complaints against such collaborations. This has purportedly led to increased tensions and violence against law enforcement officers.

• Investigation Scope: The Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees are conducting a joint investigation to determine if Nashville officials have diverted federal funds to support illegal immigrants. Congressman Ogles highlighted incidents, such as State Representative Acton Ben blocking ICE vehicles, as evidence of criminal obstruction.

• Broader Implications: Ogles emphasizes the strategic importance of Nashville as a transit hub for various criminal activities, including human trafficking and drug distribution. He asserts that obstruction not only aids illegal immigrants but also empowers sophisticated criminal enterprises targeting American communities.

Notable Quote:

• Congressman Andy Ogles [02:55]: "When the mayor of Nashville, when this state rep in Nashville is standing up and defending these people, we literally caught rapists and murderers and child traffickers and human smugglers and drug dealers. This is who was caught up by ICE."

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2. Europe’s Crackdown on Free Speech and U.S. Counteractions

[00:35] John Bickley: As Europe cracks down on free speech, the Trump administration ramps up pressure on leaders across the continent. Report from Budapest.

[07:50] Mary Margaret Olihan: President Trump and the administration are calling attention to Europe's free speech issues, utilizing the full power of their platform to advocate for fundamental liberties.

[07:59] Jason Miller: The primary focus at the EU-US forum in Hungary is Europe’s deteriorating stance on free speech. Senior State Department officials are actively pressuring countries like Ireland and France to uphold citizens' rights to free expression, religion, and privacy. Key issues include France’s arrest of Marine Le Pen and Ireland's Digital Services Act, which critics argue could lead to widespread censorship.

Key Points:

• State Department Initiatives: The U.S. is proactively engaging with European nations to challenge legislative measures that threaten free speech. The Digital Services Act in Ireland and political arrests in France are at the forefront of these discussions.

• Public Sentiment in Europe: According to Matt Mauers, a State Department veteran, European populations are increasingly disillusioned with the status quo, evident in recent election outcomes that favor leaders opposing overregulation and advocating for reduced bureaucratic control.

• Influence of President Trump: J.D. Vance highlights Trump’s significant impact on European politics, noting that his administration’s policies are fostering a united front against EU overreach. Vance emphasizes that Europe is reevaluating its relationship with the EU, particularly concerning trade and regulatory frameworks.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason Miller [09:22]: "We're seeing it right now play out in the trade relationship that President Trump has been negotiating with the EU and recent developments that are happening as recently as the last few hours, where they're saying that now by early July, they have a goal of getting a framework in place."

• J.D. Vance [10:35]: "You're seeing election results bear out that Europeans are fed up with the status quo. The bureaucrats in Brussels, the overregulation, the over taxation, the fact that they're clamping down on free speech. They're doing nothing to address the unchecked migration that's jeopardizing security and jobs."

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3. Republican Criticism of the Government Accountability Office (GAO)

[11:36] John Bickley: Republicans express growing frustration with the GAO, accusing it of politicizing its reports and obstructing President Trump’s agenda.

[12:00] Matt Mauers: The GAO, traditionally a nonpartisan agency ensuring federal funds are appropriately used, is now under fire from Republicans who claim it has become biased. Recent GAO reports have criticized the Department of Transportation for violating the Impoundment Control Act by freezing a Biden-era electric vehicle charging program—a move that GOP leaders perceive as obstructive.

[12:45] Georgia Howe: Despite being a Republican-led organization, Congress members are dissatisfied with the GAO’s recent actions.

[12:55] Matt Mauers: The GAO's assertion that Congress cannot use the Congressional Review Act to revoke California’s Clean Air Act waiver has provoked strong reactions. [13:14] Majority Leader John Thune: "We are facing something of a novel situation because the first time ever the Government Accountability Office has decided to insert itself into the process and affirmatively declare that an agency rule submitted to Congress as a rule is not a rule."

Key Points:

• Political Interference Allegations: Republicans argue that the GAO is overstepping by involving itself in legislative processes, traditionally reserved for Congress, thereby hindering Republican-led initiatives.

• DOGE’s Involvement: The Department of Defense’s Office of General Entity (DOGE) sought meetings with GAO officials to discuss downsizing, but was rebuffed, highlighting tensions between executive actions and legislative oversight.

Notable Quote:

• Majority Leader John Thune [13:14]: "It's an extraordinary deviation from precedent for an agency that should be defending Congress's power instead of constraining it."

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4. Elon Musk’s Withdrawal from Doge Initiatives

[14:23] Matt Mauers: Elon Musk is reducing his involvement with Doge due to frustrations with the political climate and legislative changes. Musk expressed disappointment in a recent spending bill, which he believes jeopardizes the initiatives that DOGE is undertaking.

Key Points:

• Spending Bill Concerns: Musk criticizes the bill for increasing the budget deficit and undermining DOGE’s efforts, leading him to step back from active participation.

• Impact on Doge Projects: The withdrawal of a key figure like Musk signals potential challenges for DOGE, especially in navigating the new legislative landscape shaped by President Trump’s administration.

Notable Quote:

• Elon Musk [14:23]: "Frankly, the massive spending bill, which increases the budget deficit, not just decrease it and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing."

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Conclusion

In this episode of Morning Wire, hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe tackle significant issues ranging from local governance challenges in Nashville to broader geopolitical concerns involving Europe’s stance on free speech. The discussion also highlights internal conflicts within Republican circles regarding the GAO and touches upon the intersection of technology, business, and politics with Elon Musk’s recent decisions affecting Doge initiatives. Notable quotes from key figures like Congressman Andy Ogles and J.D. Vance underscore the podcast’s focus on accountability, freedom, and the ongoing struggle against perceived political overreach.

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Note: Advertisements, introductory segments, and non-content sections have been omitted to maintain focus on the core discussions and analyses presented in the episode.

Transcript

[Georgia Howe]

Nashville's mayor is under investigation for obstructing ice.

[Congressman Andy Ogles]

Now you can have a woke mayor who wants to cry and whine in his Cheerios about it. But I'm going to say we're going to stand with the President, we're going to stand with Pam Bondi, we're going to stand with ice. Heck, I'll go out there and I'll help ice.

[John Bickley]

What's ice's message to other blue cities? Undermining the law?

[Georgia Howe]

I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire Executive editor John Bickley. It's Thursday, May 29th and this is Morning Wire.

[John Bickley]

As Europe cracks down on free speech, the Trump administration ramps up pressure on leaders across the continent. We have a report from Budapest.

[Mary Margaret Olihan]

President Trump and the administration are calling attention to it and I think putting the fully pulpit to use.

[Georgia Howe]

And Republicans are turning up the heat on Congress own watchdog agency accusing the GAO of trying to undermine Trump's agenda.

[John Bickley]

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

[Tim Pierce]

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[Georgia Howe]

Trump Borders Our Tom Homan has been leading ICE raids in cities across the country targeting criminal illegals. But some so called sanctuary city officials are working to hinder the crackdown.

[John Bickley]

Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles, who sits on the Homeland Security Committee, announced this week that they've launched an investigation into the office of Nashville Mayor Freddie o' Connell. The they claim that the city officials are actively obstructing ice. The congressman joins us now. Congressman Ogles, thank you so much for joining us.

[Congressman Andy Ogles]

Absolutely, I appreciate you having me.

[John Bickley]

So you've announced an investigation this week. What exactly are you looking into?

[Congressman Andy Ogles]

Yeah, well, so what you've seen across the country is increased activity and deportations by ICE and Homeland Security. And the mayor of Nashville came out with this executive order, and he's requiring law enforcement to report any interactions with, with federal, so local law enforcement, with federal law enforcement. But he's also encouraged citizens or civilians to report. So there's this community oversight board. He said, hey, if you see Metro police helping law enforcement, federal law enforcement, we want you to file a complaint against them. So when these mayors are making local law enforcement the bad guys, this feeds into that loop where you see more violence against our law enforcement. And as someone who's on the Homeland Security Committee, I just received, received a classified briefing. And, and what I can tell you is that Ms. 13 and Trinder Wagner, they're all over the country. They're in Nashville, they're in our small cities like Columbia and Tullahoma.

[John Bickley]

So we're seeing this across the country. Nashville, obviously a major focus for you being from Tennessee. Have we actually seen officials in Nashville working against ice, obstructing ICE to thwart their operations?

[Congressman Andy Ogles]

Absolutely. So that's one of the things we're going to be looking at. So we're looking at the city of Nashville and the mayor to see if there's been actual actions or federal monies that have flowed through the city to illegals. Then also you saw the state rep, Acton, Ben, who used her vehicle, she recorded herself and she put it on social media where she was blocking ICE vehicles.

[Jason Miller]

She got our girl squad, and we're bullying the ICE vehicles.

[Congressman Andy Ogles]

That's a crime, ladies and gentlemen. And so, so the Homeland Security Committee, which I'm on, and the Judiciary Committee, that's Jim Jordan, will be launching a joint investigation into Nashville. If you impede federal law enforcement in their duties, in their directive to follow the president, President Trump, to say it's time that we start deporting these folks, we're going to be looking into your city and where applicable, we're going to hold you accountable. So there's a lot of work to be done here. And the other thing to keep in mind is Nashville is a through city. So whether it's human trafficking, whether it's drugs, whether it's guns, geographically, we're about six hours from most of the population in the country. So the gangs, the. The violent gangs in Central and South America. They want strongholds in Nashville.

[John Bickley]

Now, you mentioned an NGO in your order for communications records. Have you seen NGOs playing a role in general across the country in this effort to shield or enable illegal immigrants?

[Tim Pierce]

Oh, absolutely.

[Congressman Andy Ogles]

You know, under the Biden administration, there was a whole, you know, economy essentially set up by nonprofits who were making money off bringing people into this country. So someone would come across the border, then they would swoop in, get them housing, get them benefits, and then they would profit off of it from the federal government. President Trump is putting an end to that type of nonsense. And I go back to that classified briefing, which I can't give great detail on, but I can tell you that these gangs are sophisticated. They're in every city in our country. They have very sophisticated surveillance equipment, tactical equipment. I mean, this isn't just some thug on the street selling drugs. These are cartels and criminal enterprises that are moving and sweeping across our country. And so when the mayor of Nashville, when this state rep in Nashville is standing up and defending these people, we literally caught rapists and murderers and child traffickers and human smugglers and drug dealers. This is who was caught up by ice. This is who we're trying to deport. And I, for one, am going to stand with my community, my state, and my country. And these people should not be in our communities.

[John Bickley]

Well, there continues to be very strong support for deporting criminal illegal aliens, so a lot of people backing this effort. Congressman Ogles, thank you so much for joining us.

[Congressman Andy Ogles]

Absolutely. I appreciate you having me.

[Tim Pierce]

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[Georgia Howe]

The EU US forum is taking place this week in Hungary. The goal of the summit is to challenge the leftist ideas put forward by the European Union and unite Western leaders to fight back against the eu' Joining.

[John Bickley]

Us now from Budapest, Hungary is Daily Wire White House correspondent Mary Margaret Olihan. Mary Margaret, great to see you. What are conservative leaders discussing across the pond?

[Jason Miller]

Good morning, John. So the big topic of conversation over here is Europe's free speech problem. This week, as we exclusively reported, a number of senior State Department officials are heading to Ireland and Paris to push both countries to respect their citizens. A senior State Department official told me that the trip is part of the department's effort to fight back against violations of basic natural rights in Europe, especially freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to privacy. In France, they'll be pushing officials on the recent arrest of French politician Marine Le Pen. And in Ireland, they'll be digging into the new European Union law that could be used to censor free speech, called the Digital Services Act. As a State Department official told me, it's, quote, obviously being weaponized for political purposes. That official also reminded me that it's not a coincidence that these kinds of global forces are using similar tactics to those that were used on this side of the Atlantic against President Trump and.

[Matt Mauers]

His over the past eight years, pointed reference there.

[John Bickley]

How are European nations responding to this type of scrutiny from the U.S. well.

[Jason Miller]

I'm told that they're really feeling the heat of President Donald Trump's administration. Vice President Vance really laid into the censorship in his remarks at the Munich Security Conference earlier this year, and that laid the groundwork for much more scrutiny of the current situation. Former Trump senior adviser Jason Miller joined the EU US summit here in Budapest ahead of the CPAC Hungary 2025, and they really dug into the censorship going on throughout Europe.

[Mary Margaret Olihan]

Ultimately, when they start putting restrictions on their free speech, then other outlets, whether it be a social media platform, whether it be technology platforms such as Apple or Google, or things of that nature, when free speech is suppressed there, then ultimately what's going to happen is so many of those same policies will be put in place in the United States.

[Jason Miller]

One example Miller gave is the United Kingdom's request for a backdoor to Apple icloud's encryption to help the UK Government access Apple icloud user data. We broke the news back in February that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was probing the potential implications of such a request, which raised a lot of red flags.

[Mary Margaret Olihan]

They say it's only to stop the worst of the worst. It's to stop the bad actors. Well, I can tell you that anyone in the US Intelligence side will tell you will say that if you open up people's individual iclouds, just, you know, and again, they come with a very nice, well presented cover, that it's only the bad people that they're looking at. It'll take hackers and other people five minutes tops to hack into everybody's icloud. Dangers like this become very, very real.

[Jason Miller]

I also spoke with Matt Mauers, who's a State Department veteran and president of the global strategies firm Valcor. Matt tells me that the people of Europe are getting tired of the status quo.

[J.D. Vance]

You're seeing election results bear out that Europeans are fed up with the status quo. The bureaucrats in Brussels, the overregulation, the over taxation, the fact that they're clamping down on free speech. Speech, they're doing nothing to address the unchecked migration that's jeopardizing security and jobs.

[Jason Miller]

He also suggested to me that Trump's impact on Europe thus far has been, and I'm quoting, monumental.

[J.D. Vance]

We're seeing it right now play out in the trade relationship that President Trump has been negotiating with the EU and recent developments that are happening as recently as the last few hours, where they're saying that now by early July, they have a goal of getting a framework in place.

[Jason Miller]

It's also worth noting Vance's remarks in Munich continue to dominate discussions of free speech across the globe. And they'll likely continue to do so during CPA Pack Hungary 2025, which will take place this weekend where conservative leaders and commentators are gathering.

[John Bickley]

Yeah, obviously a major priority for the administration, as J.D. vance famously laid out very early on, as you've highlighted here. Mary Margaret, thank you so much for joining us and enjoy Budapest.

[Jason Miller]

Thanks so much, John.

[John Bickley]

Republicans have grown frustrated with the independent agency known as the Congressional Watchdog. They say the Government Accountability Office has too often let politics dictate its findings rather than the facts.

[Georgia Howe]

Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce is here to talk about the gao, as well as Elon Musk stepping back from his work with Doge. So Tim, first off, what is the GAO and why are Republicans focusing on it now?

[Matt Mauers]

It's sort of like Doge before Doge. According to its website, the GAO is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress. It typically looks at how federal funds are spent and how executive agencies implement certain policies, and it makes reports to inform lawmakers. Recently, Republicans say that the GAO has been infected by politics. And this lack of trust comes as the GAO has probes into dozens of Trump administration spending freezes. Last week it finished one of them. It said that the Department of Transportation violated the Impoundment Control act to freeze a Biden era electric vehicle charging program. That earned a rebuke from Russ Vogt, the director of the Office of Management and Budget. He wrote on X that the GAO is going to call everything an impoundment because they want to grind our work to manage taxpayer dollars effectively to a halt.

[Georgia Howe]

So the Trump administration has their reasons for being upset with the gao, but it's technically a Republican led organization. So why are Republicans in Congress upset with it?

[Matt Mauers]

Yeah, they were mad last week too. Congress voted to strip a Clean Air act waiver from California that would have authorized the state to effectively ban new gas powered vehicles by 2035. The GAO said that Congress couldn't use the Congressional Review act to pull the waiver that set Republicans in the Senate off. Here's Majority Leader John Thune on the floor of the Senate last week.

[John Thune]

We are facing something of a novel situation because the first time ever the Government Accountability Office has decided to insert itself into the process and affirmatively declare that an agency rule submitted to Congress as a rule is not a rule. It's an extraordinary deviation from precedent for an agency that should be defending Congress's power instead of constraining it. And frankly, Mr. President, I think we need to act to ensure that this intrusion into the Congressional Review act process doesn't become a habit and that the Senate doesn't end up transferring its decision making power on CRA resolutions to the Government Accountability Office.

[Matt Mauers]

In addition to pressure from Congress, DOGE has also approached the gao. The DOGE team wanted to meet with GAO officials about downsizing, but the GAO never gave DOGE access because it is a legislative, not an executive agency.

[Georgia Howe]

And the GAO may be one of the few agencies that can avoid doge. Now, speaking of Elon Musk said that he was going to be stepping back from his duties at Doge. What do we know about that?

[Matt Mauers]

Right. Musk is cutting back the work he's doing for the Trump administration. It's been a rough ride for the world's wealthiest man, from the attacks on his companies to the frustrations of government bureaucracy. This week, Musk seemed somewhat bitter about the political process, especially surrounding the passage of the big, beautiful bill. Here's Musk on CBS Sunday morning. You know, I was like disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decrease it and undermines the work that the Doge team is doing.

[Georgia Howe]

I think, I think a bull can.

[John Bickley]

Be, can be, can be big or.

[Matt Mauers]

It can be beautiful, but I don't.

[John Bickley]

Know if it could be both.

[Matt Mauers]

Musk seems to think that all of his work with Doge was just erased with President Trump's landmark legislation.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, politics is difficult business. Tim, thanks for reporting.

[Matt Mauers]

Good to be on.

[John Bickley]

Before you go, we're on YouTube now. Watch and subscribe to the video version on our Morning Wire channel. Thanks for waking up with us. We'll be back tomorrow morning with more news you need to know.

[Congressman Andy Ogles]

This is Dr. Jordan B. Peterson. Watch Parenting, available exclusively on Daily Wire.

[Matt Mauers]

Plus, we're dealing with misbehaviors with our son.

[John Bickley]

Our 13 year old throws tantrums.

[Congressman Andy Ogles]

Her son turned to some substance abuse. Go to dailywireplus.com today.