Morning Wire | December 4, 2025

Episode: “NATO Pressures Putin & Trump’s Immigration Freeze”

Episode Overview

In this episode, hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe provide an in-depth look at three leading news stories: NATO’s ongoing involvement in the Ukraine conflict and European efforts to cut dependence on Russian gas; the Trump administration’s sweeping new immigration freeze and reactions following a deadly DC shooting; and new findings on widespread fraud enabled by federal DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) programs during the Biden administration. Featuring interviews with reporters and subject-matter experts, the episode breaks down shifting geopolitical alliances, immigration policy, and the massive scale of government contracting abuses.

Key Segments & Discussions

1. NATO’s Ukraine Strategy and Europe's Energy Independence

[03:33–06:53]

NATO Stepping Up Support for Ukraine

• NATO Ministers' Meeting:

  • Nearly all NATO foreign ministers met in Brussels to discuss prolonging support for Ukraine.
  • Notable Absence: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio didn't attend—first such absence in two decades—yet allies weren't deeply concerned due to Rubio's established trust.

• Ongoing Peace Talks & Military Funding:

  • U.S. seeks a swift, practical end to the war, but NATO Secretary General Mark Ruda indicated longer-term support—even through 2026.
  • Quote:
    “The peace talks are ongoing. That's good. But... we have to make sure... that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position to keep the fight going... also in [the] strongest possible position when peace talks really get to a point where they sit at the table.” – NATO Secretary General Mark Ruda [04:34]

• U.S. Weapons & Funding:

  • NATO allies now contribute ~$1 billion/month to U.S. weapons for Ukraine.

• Russia-U.S. Negotiations:

  • The Kremlin remains firm on holding territories in Eastern Ukraine; some American proposals were well received, but no compromise is near.
  • Quote:
    “What they're literally fighting over now is about a 30 to 50 kilometer space in the 20% of the Donetsk region that remains... We have tried to figure out what can the Ukrainians live with that gives them security guarantees for the future—they’re never going to be invaded again.” – Marco Rubio (via John Bickley) [05:34]

Europe’s Move Away from Russian Energy

• Historic Energy Decision:

  • EU President Ursula von der Leyen announced a provisional deal to phase out Russian fossil fuels.
  • Quote:
    “Today is indeed a historic day for our union... we reached a provisional agreement on the Commission's proposal to fully phase out Russian fossil fuels... This is the dawn of a new era, the era of Europe's full energy independence from Russia.” – Ursula von der Leyen [06:21, 06:38]

• Caveat:

  • Despite the plan, billions are still spent on Russian products as the transition is implemented.

2. Trump Administration Expands Immigration Freeze

[07:59–12:04]

Response to DC Shooting

• Incident Triggering Policy:
  • Two National Guard troops were shot in DC by an Afghan migrant, admitted under the Biden administration, which led to drastic immigration changes.
• Immediate Actions:
  • The Trump administration halted asylum decisions and visa processing from 19 countries deemed “of concern” for terror risks—spanning Afghanistan, the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.

Implementation Details

• USCIS Directive:
  • All legal immigration application processing is paused for those from these countries, including already-accepted green card and citizenship applicants—swearing-in ceremonies are on hold pending further vetting.
  • Quote:
    “What this looks like in practice is the Trump administration is halting all processing of any legal immigration applications from individuals from these 19 countries... as the administration does a more thorough vetting process.” – Jenny Tayer, Immigration Reporter [08:21]

Vetting Lapses Revealed

• Background of Suspect:
  • The Afghan suspect in the shooting was admitted during the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal “barely vetted”—no criminal, biometric, cyber, or financial background checks.
  • Part of “Operation Allies Welcome”—approx. 77,000 entered under this program, with multiple instances of later-discovered terror ties.
  • Quote:
    “This is very concerning because he was not the only one who came this way... there was a government watchdog that came out months after we left Afghanistan that said the vetting was poor and minimal at the time.” – Jenny Tayer [09:29]

Targeted Deportations

• Minneapolis & New Orleans:
  • New deportation operations target 500 Somali individuals in Minneapolis with final orders of removal, following a major taxpayer fraud scheme involving diverted COVID funds.
  • Trump’s Comments:
    “They contribute nothing. The Welfare is like 88%. They contribute nothing. I don't want them in our country. I'll be honest with you. Their country stinks.” – Donald Trump [11:45]

3. Massive Fraud in Federal DEI Programs

[12:36–16:33]

Explosive Findings from GAI

• Guest: Seamus Bruner, Government Accountability Institute (GAI) Director of Research.
• DEI Industrial Complex:
  • Multi-billion-dollar “8(a)” program at the SBA, designed for “disadvantaged” and minority contractors, is plagued by abuse.
  • Loosely defined “disadvantaged” status has enabled wealthy individuals to qualify and partner with giant consulting firms to obtain lucrative, no-bid contracts.
  • Quote:
    “It turns out that they're not disadvantaged at all. I mean, the shareholders... wear Rolex watches and are very wealthy... and they receive no bid contracts under this program. And for anybody who knows anything about a no-bid contract, it's about as corrupt as it can be.” – Seamus Bruner [13:15]

DEI Exploded Under Biden

• Tripled Quotas:

  • Under the Biden administration, DEI and “disadvantaged” quota contracts tripled—enabling unprecedented scale of taxpayer fraud.
  • Examples include a $100 million contract where the “minority” partner received over $50 million while performing little work.

• Root Causes & Scale:

  • The rebranding of DEI programs with vague language like “disadvantaged” spreads them across all sectors, especially education.
  • Some positive steps taken under the Trump administration—but lack of full audits, especially at the Pentagon, means most abuses remain hidden.
  • Quote:
    “I think it's the tip of the iceberg. The Pentagon has not yet ordered a full audit... I think the Pentagon is gonna be really where a lot of these billions are hiding out.” – Seamus Bruner [16:03]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The peace talks are ongoing. That's good. But at the same time, we have to make sure... that Ukraine is in the strongest possible position to keep the fight going...”
  — NATO Secretary General Mark Ruda, [04:34]

• “What they're literally fighting over now is about a 30 to 50 kilometer space in the 20% of the Donetsk region that remains...”
  — Marco Rubio (via John Bickley), [05:34]

• “This is the dawn of a new era, the era of Europe's full energy independence from Russia.”
  — Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President, [06:38]

• “What this looks like in practice is the Trump administration is halting all processing of any legal immigration applications from individuals from these 19 countries...”
  — Jenny Tayer, Immigration Reporter, [08:21]

• “They contribute nothing... I don't want them in our country. I'll be honest with you. Their country stinks.”
  — Donald Trump, [11:45]

• “It turns out that they're not disadvantaged at all. I mean, the shareholders... wear Rolex watches and are very wealthy... and they receive no bid contracts under this program... as corrupt as it can be.”
  — Seamus Bruner, GAI, [13:15]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• NATO’s Position on Ukraine, Peace Talks & Funding – [03:33–06:53]
• Europe Phasing Out Russian Gas – [05:50–06:46]
• Trump’s Immigration Freeze Post-DC Shooting – [07:59–10:28]
• Deportation Initiatives Linked to Fraud – [10:28–12:04]
• DEI Program Fraud Exposé – [12:36–16:33]

Closing Thoughts

This episode delivers insider perspectives on major breaking stories:

• NATO unity and long-term plans regarding Ukraine, alongside Europe’s seismic shift away from Russian energy.
• The Trump administration's sweeping and contentious immigration freeze, sparked by a high-profile violent incident and broader fraud investigations.
• Deep dives into how federal DEI mandates have been manipulated for profit, raising red flags about the depth of fraud in government contracting.

The tone is factual yet urgent, with pointed critiques of both the Biden and Trump administrations on different issues, consistent with Daily Wire’s right-leaning editorial stance. Interviews with investigative reporters and subject-matter experts provide additional authority and detail, equipping listeners with context and clear takeaways.