NPR, PBS Heads Testify & Trump’s Voter ID EO | Afternoon Update | 3.26.25

Summary

Morning Wire Episode Summary: NPR, PBS Heads Testify & Trump’s Voter ID EO | Afternoon Update | 03.26.25

Release Date: March 26, 2025

In the latest episode of Morning Wire, hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe delve into pressing national issues ranging from media credibility and federal election laws to significant developments in the federal judiciary and political rhetoric. Below is a comprehensive summary of the episode's key discussions, insights, and conclusions.

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1. The Atlantic’s Signal Chat Controversy

Georgia Howe opens the discussion by highlighting The Atlantic's recent publication of "Signal Chat war plans," which pertain to potential airstrikes in Yemen. This revelation has sparked significant backlash from the White House.

• Deputy Managing Editor Tim Rice reports that the White House is contesting The Atlantic's claims, asserting that no classified material was leaked and accusing the magazine of sensationalizing the incident. Additionally, Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary, reinforces that the information was already available to allies and did not compromise national security.

• Catherine Marr, Director of National Intelligence, clarifies that the inclusion of a reporter in the Signal Chat was inadvertent. She emphasizes, "We need to have journalists who represent the full breadth of the American society so that we can report well for all Americans" (02:16).

The incident has ignited partisan tensions, with many on the left demanding accountability from officials like Hegseth, while others defend the administration's stance on upholding national security.

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2. NPR and PBS Under Federal Scrutiny

A heated exchange unfolded during the Delivering on Government Efficiency subcommittee hearing, focusing on federal funding for public broadcasters NPR and PBS.

• Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized these outlets for perceived bias, questioning their suitability as unbiased sources for all Americans.

• Catherine Marr of NPR faced tough questioning regarding the political affiliations within her editorial board. She conceded, "I would agree with you that that number is a concern. If it is accurate. I do believe that we need to have journalists who represent the full breadth of the American society so that we can report well for all American" (02:16), acknowledging the importance of diverse representation in journalism.

• PBS President Paula Kerger defended her organization, arguing that loss of federal support would threaten the future of local stations. When pressed by Representative Pat Fallon about the imbalance in the usage of terms like "far right" versus "far left," Kerger responded skeptically, stating, "I don't know the study that you're referring to and I'd be very interested in seeing it and understanding how they came up with those numbers" (03:00).

This segment underscored ongoing debates about media impartiality and the role of government in supporting public broadcasting.

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3. President Trump’s Executive Order on Voting

Tim Rice discusses President Trump's latest executive order aimed at tightening federal voting regulations. The order mandates government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration, requires all ballots to be reviewed by Election Day, links federal election funding to state compliance, and seeks to prevent the counting of late-arriving mail ballots.

• Trump defends the order as a necessary measure to protect election integrity, while voting rights advocates argue it may disenfranchise millions of voters.

This move is part of Trump's broader strategy to influence federal election laws and ensure stricter verification processes.

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4. Trump’s Healthcare Cabinet Confirmations

The episode covers significant advancements in President Trump's cabinet appointments within the healthcare sector.

• Amanda Presto Giacomo reports that the Senate has confirmed Trump's nominees for the FDA and NIH, namely Dr. Marty Makary and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, both through party-line votes.

  • Dr. Makary emphasizes his commitment to addressing food-related health issues, such as childhood obesity, and criticizes previous administrations' decisions on vaccine oversight and food safety.

  • Dr. Bhattacharya advocates for a "smarter FDA that works for all Americans" (04:27) and pledges to promote transparency and support dissenting research at the NIH. He states, "If confirmed, I will establish a culture of respect for free speech in science and scientific dissent at the NIH" (04:55).

These confirmations reflect Trump's intent to steer federal health agencies towards greater transparency and public health priorities.

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5. Senate Resolution Condemning Attacks on Tesla

Georgia Howe reports on Senator Marsha Blackburn’s introduction of a Senate resolution condemning violent attacks on Tesla dealerships, labeling them as acts of domestic terrorism.

• Senator Blackburn asserts, "We have lived through four years where every time you turned around, they were talking about domestic terrorism... and now we are going through this where they're actually firebombing and shooting up Tesla dealerships and nothing is being said" (05:54).

She criticizes Democratic lawmakers for their perceived silence on these violent acts, highlighting the resolution as a call to action for greater bipartisan support against such threats.

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6. Texas Governor Abbott Responds to Mockery

The episode highlights tensions involving Texas Governor Greg Abbott following derogatory remarks made by Representative Jasmine Crockett.

• Governor Abbott, who has been using a wheelchair since 1984, responds to Crockett’s insult, describing it as evidence that Democrats "have nothing to sell but hate." Jay Bhattacharya supports this sentiment, stating, "Republican states like Texas are leading the way. And with comments like this by Democrats, we will just leave them in the dust in future elections" (06:53).

• Governor Abbott also notes the introduction of a House resolution to censure Crockett by Representative Randy Weber, underlining the bipartisan backlash against the derogatory comment.

This exchange underscores the deepening partisan divides and the personal attacks that often characterize political discourse.

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Conclusion

In this episode of Morning Wire, hosts Bickley and Howe navigate through a spectrum of contentious topics, from media integrity and federal voting laws to significant political appointments and partisan conflicts. The discussions reflect ongoing struggles over information control, election integrity, and the polarization shaping American politics today.

For more detailed coverage of these stories and additional updates, visit dailywire.com.

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Notable Quotes:

• Catherine Marr: "I would agree with you that that number is a concern. If it is accurate. I do believe that we need to have journalists who represent the full breadth of the American society so that we can report well for all American." (02:16)

• Jay Bhattacharya: "Republican states like Texas are leading the way. And with comments like this by Democrats, we will just leave them in the dust in future elections." (06:53)

• Senator Marsha Blackburn: "We have lived through four years where every time you turned around, they were talking about domestic terrorism... and now we are going through this where they're actually firebombing and shooting up Tesla dealerships and nothing is being said." (05:54)

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This summary provides an overview of the key topics discussed in the episode, incorporating direct quotes and timestamps for reference.

Transcript

[Advertiser Host]

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[Georgia Howe]

The Atlantic publishes more so called Signal Chat war plans, Trump moves to rein in federal election law and Texas Governor Greg Abbott gets the final word. I Georgia I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire Editor in Chief John Bickley. It's Wednesday, March 26th, and this is your Morning Wire afternoon update.

[Tim Rice]

The White House is pushing back against the Atlantic after the magazine published more signal messages regarding airstrikes in Yemen. Data Wire Deputy Managing Editor Tim Rice has the latest.

[Pete Hegseth]

The new message appears to show timing and targets for the strikes. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth insists no classified material was shared. The White House backed up that claim today while accusing the outlet of sensationalizing the leak. Vice President J.D. vance and other officials maintained the information was already known to allies and not a threat to national security. Still, many on the left are calling for heads to roll, demanding that Hegseth and other officials step down. Meanwhile, U.S. intelligence officials, including the heads of the FBI and CIA, testified today on Capitol Hill. Here's Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

[Catherine Marr]

The President and National Security Advisor Waltz held a press conference yesterday with a clear message it was a mistake that a reporter was inadvertently added to a signal chat with high level national security principals having a policy discussion about imminent strikes against the Houthis and the effects of the strike. National Security Advisor has taken full responsibility for this.

[Georgia Howe]

Sparks flew today during a Delivering on Government Efficiency subcommittee hearing regarding federal funding for public broadcast. NPR CEO Catherine Marr and PBS President Paula Kerger both testified. The subcommittee chair, Marjorie Taylor Greene argues that these outlets are supposed to be for all Americans but no longer are. Here's an exchange in which the NPR chief admits it's concerning that all 87 members of her editorial board are registered Democrats.

[Catherine Marr]

I would agree with you that that number is a concern. If it is accurate. I do believe that we need to have journalists who represent the full breadth of the American society so that we can report well for all American.

[Georgia Howe]

Kerger, for her part, argues that the future of local stations is at stake if federal support is lost. She also says she believes her outlet is fair, nonpartisan and objective. Here she is being grilled by Representative Pat Fallon on the number of times PBS used the term far right versus far left.

[Pat Fallon]

There was an analysis done on PBS's NewsHour from June to November of 2023 where they found that far right, that term was used 162 times and far left was only used six times. Do you find that troubling?

[Catherine Marr]

I don't know the study that you're referring to and I'd be very interested in seeing it and understanding how they came up with those numbers.

[Pat Fallon]

Media Research center did a six month analysis and it's not how do you find it? You say far right or it's terms. They use the term far right 162 times, far left six times. That's a 96 to 4% skew.

[Tim Rice]

President Trump is tightening federal voting rules, signing an executive order regarding who can vote. The order requires government issued proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote and directs that all ballots be reviewed by Election Day. It also ties federal election funding to state compliance and aims to block counting of late arriving mail ballots. Voting rights groups say the move could disenfranchise millions, but Trump says it's about protecting election integrity.

[Georgia Howe]

President Trump's cabinet is filling out, particularly in the area of health. Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presto Giacomo has the details.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

The president's picks for both the FDA and NIH have been confirmed by the Senate. Dr. Marty Makary, a Johns Hopkins professor and former Fox News medical contributor, was confirmed last night in a 56 to 54 vote. Stanford professor Dr. Jay Bhattacharya was also confirmed last night. That was through a party line vote. During the confirmation hearings, Makary faced questions on vaccine oversight and food safety. He criticized past decisions by the Biden administration and pledged to focus on food related health issues like childhood obesity, a.

[Jay Bhattacharya]

Message that's resonated with moms across the country regardless of their politics. A smarter FDA that works for all Americans should be a goal we can all agree on. As a scientist who has spent a career evaluating medical interventions, I believe in the scientific process.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Bhattacharya told senators that he plans to promote transparency, support dissenting research and prioritize projects that directly improve public health.

[Pat Fallon]

If confirmed, I will establish a culture of respect for free speech in science and scientific dissent at the nih. Over the last few years, top NIH officials oversaw a culture of COVID up, obfuscation and a lack of tolerance for ideas that differed from theirs.

[Advertiser Host]

This episode is brought to you by Fast Growing Trees. This spring, Fast Growing Trees has the best deals for your yard, up to half off on select plants and other deals and Listeners to our show get 15% off their first purchase when using code wire at checkout offers valid for a limited time. Terms and conditions may apply.

[Georgia Howe]

A Senate resolution condemning the far left attacks on Tesla will soon reach the chamber floor. Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn told Morning Wire that this resolution says the Senate stands against those acts of violence. While many Democratic lawmakers have been silent regarding what Blackburn describes as acts of domestic terrorism, she says this will give them the opportunity to speak up.

[Marsha Blackburn]

We have lived through four years where every time you turned around, they were talking about domestic terrorism. They were calling parents that went to school board meetings as domestic terrorists. They were calling individuals that would stand across the street from a Planned Parenthood and pray for the women and the unborn children. And they would call that domestic terrorism. And now we are going through this where they're actually firebombing and shooting up Tesla dealerships and nothing is being said.

[Tim Rice]

And Texas Governor Greg Abbott is firing back after a Democratic congresswoman mocked his disability. Representative Jasmine Crockett called Abbott, quote, governor hot wheels during a speech in Los Angeles, which sparked bipartisan backlash. Abbott, who's used a wheelchair since a 1984 accident, tells Fox News the insult shows Democrats have nothing to sell but hate.

[Jay Bhattacharya]

The reality is they have no vision, no policy. They have to sell but hate, and Americans are not buying it. It's one reason why Texas is going to remain red and why Republicans are going to continue to win elections across the country. The bottom line is that Republican states like Texas are leading the way. And with comments like this by Democrats, we will just leave them in the dust in future elections.

[Tim Rice]

Crockett later claimed her remarks were about Abbott's migrant policies, not his disability. A House resolution to censure her is now being introduced by fellow Texas Representative Randy Weber.

[Georgia Howe]

Those are your drive this afternoon. To learn more about these stories, go to dailywire.com and in case you missed it, this morning we covered some important stories, including the latest in the Signal chat snafu, the debate around SNAP benefits for junk food, and the sweeping deregulatory action from the epa. Thanks for tuning in. We'll be back tomorrow morning with another full edition of MORNING wire.