Morning Wire – Senate Targets Extremism & ICE Leadership Shake-Up
Date: October 29, 2025
Hosts: John Bickley, Georgia Howe
Guests/Reporters: Michael Knowles, Megan Basham, Jenny Terr, Amanda Presta Giacomo
Episode Overview
This episode of Morning Wire spotlights rising concerns over political violence associated with the far left, a Senate hearing confronting the phenomenon, a major shakeup at ICE leadership with internal DHS divisions, and a high-stakes New York City mayoral race stirring significant controversy and anxiety. The coverage aims to bring under-reported perspectives to light, especially where mainstream media often avoids uncomfortable angles.
Key Segments & Insights
1. Senate Hearing on Political Violence & Left-Wing Extremism
[02:03–07:00]
Purpose & Importance of the Hearing
- Megan Basham reports that the Senate hearing, led by Senator Schmidt and Republican colleagues, targeted the neglect of left-wing political violence and sought to force political and media leaders to confront the evidence.
- The assassination of Charlie Kirk served as a pivotal catalyst, making it "impossible to ignore" rising ideological violence.
- Despite some media coverage, many outlets have "worked hard to bury evidence pointing to ideological motives" behind significant events (04:00).
Michael Knowles' Testimony
- Michael Knowles highlighted the systematic underreporting of left-wing violence by classifying incidents as non-ideological or misconduct not tied to political motive.
- Notable Quote:
“The federal government must act now to stop the consistent and accelerating trend of leftist terrorism. For a legislator to deny the threat and neglect the remedy... it is nothing less than complicity.”
— Michael Knowles [02:03] - He cited examples:
- Covenant School shooting in Nashville: “According to authorities, there was no ideological motive there. Go figure.”
- Black Lives Matter riots: “Overtly leftist demonstrations…left dozens dead and over a billion dollars in property damage. Likewise, those fail to show up on registers of left-wing political violence.”
- Personal Antifa targeting incidents: misclassified as “obstructing law enforcement,” not as attacks on conservatives.
— Michael Knowles [04:35]
Data & Official Responses
- Sen. Marsha Blackburn (paraphrased by Basham):
- Antifa, ICE protest strikes, and similar left-progressive violence is systematically "undercounted," while right-wing violence is "overcounted." [05:15]
- Study via The Atlantic cited by Knowles: Left now commits more political violence than the right.
- “Less honest liberals, including members of Congress, continue to deny this fact…” — Knowles [05:57]
- Poll: 26% of young liberals (vs. 7% of young conservatives) considered political violence “sometimes permissible.” [06:25]
Key Takeaway
- The Senate push and Knowles’ testimony aimed for national acknowledgment of a leftward shift in political violence, challenging narratives downplaying such threats.
2. ICE Leadership Shake-Up & Internal DHS Divisions
[07:04–11:21]
Nature and Scale of the Changes
- Jenny Terr reports that ICE leaders are being replaced by Border Patrol figures in cities including LA, Phoenix, Denver, and others.
- Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino now leads operations in multiple major cities (e.g., Los Angeles, Chicago), signaling a shift to broader, more assertive enforcement tactics.
Internal Disagreement Over Approach
- There are schisms within DHS:
- Corey Lewandowski (Senior Advisor/Acting Leader) advocates for high-number arrests and mass deportations.
- Head of ICE and border czar Tom Homan favor “higher quality” targeted arrests—focusing on hardened criminals for public approval and morale.
- “They want to show the public that they're getting really bad guys, really hardened criminals off the streets … making sure that those ICE officers are really feeling good about the work they're doing and that they're making targeted arrests.” — Jenny Terr [09:05]
Tactics and Public Perception
- Recent broader sweeps (e.g., Home Depot raids, car washes) by Border Patrol have prompted backlash and legal scrutiny — including testimony about alleged tear gas use in Chicago (Bovino).
- Lewisandowski’s faction is winning:
- “His camp is really winning this fight from what we can tell… his control at DHS has really become a point of contention.” — Jenny Terr [10:27]
Trump's Role
- President Trump is seen as ultimately advising all camps, but the path is now trending toward quantity > quality thanks to Lewandowski's dominance.
3. The New York City Mayoral Race & Zoran Mamdani’s Controversies
[11:24–15:46]
State of the Race
- Amanda Presta Giacomo covers Socialist candidate Zoran Mamdani’s shrinking lead: from 20 points to 10 (Suffolk University poll: 44% Mamdani, 34% Andrew Cuomo).
- Outgoing Mayor Eric Adams endorsed Cuomo, helping close the gap; GOP contender Curtis Sliwa holds 11%.
Controversies & Criticisms
- Islamophobia and 9/11 Comments
- Mamdani's recounting of his Muslim aunt’s fear post-9/11 spotlighted his identity-based campaign:
“I want to speak to the memory of my aunt who stopped taking the subway after September 11th because she did not feel safe in her hijab.” — Zoran Mamdani (quoted by John Bickley) [13:17] - When challenged, he revised the story and accused critics of Islamophobia.
- Mamdani's recounting of his Muslim aunt’s fear post-9/11 spotlighted his identity-based campaign:
- Antisemitism Accusations
- A 2023 resurfaced clip:
“We have to make clear that when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it’s been laced by the IDF.” — Zoran Mamdani (quoted by John Bickley) [13:53]
- A 2023 resurfaced clip:
- Policy Positions Stir Anxiety
- Massive tax hikes, freeze on rent, replacing police with social workers, government-run groceries, decriminalization of sex work.
- “There was a survey…as much as a quarter of all New York City residents would consider fleeing the city if Mamdani does become mayor.” — Amanda Presta Giacomo [14:12]
- A watchdog group has even offered relocation help for concerned citizens.
Demographics & Support
- Mamdani thriving among under-40s and immigrant voters; foreign-born residents now nearly 40% of the NYC population, shaping electoral dynamics.
Notable Quotes & Moments
- “The federal government must act now to stop the consistent and accelerating trend of leftist terrorism…” — Michael Knowles [02:03]
- “Less honest liberals, including members of Congress, continue to deny this fact. Democrat Congressman Seth Moulton… blamed the right [for Kirk’s assassination].” — Michael Knowles [05:57]
- “They want to show the public that they're getting really bad guys, really hardened criminals off the streets…” — Jenny Terr [09:05]
- “When the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it’s been laced by the IDF.” — Zoran Mamdani (quoted) [13:53]
- “As much as a quarter of all New York City residents would consider fleeing the city if Mamdani does become mayor.” — Amanda Presta Giacomo [14:12]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 02:03 Senate hearing/Michael Knowles’ testimony
- 04:35 Knowles' examples of overlooked left-wing political violence
- 05:15 Sen. Marsha Blackburn on undercounting left violence
- 07:04 ICE shake-up overview
- 08:12 DHS infighting (Lewandowski vs. Homan/ICE)
- 09:44 Tactics and public concern around ICE/BP raids
- 10:27 Who’s winning inside DHS (Lewandowski)
- 11:49 NYC mayoral race polling shift
- 13:17 Mamdani’s comments on Islamophobia post-9/11
- 13:53 Mamdani's NYPD/IDF quote
- 14:12–15:34 Anxiety over Mamdani’s potential win; city demographics
Summary
This episode scrutinizes how U.S. government and media establishments address—or, according to the show, fail to address—the reality of leftist-driven political violence, both statistically and anecdotally. It unpacks the ideological, political, and tactical divides within DHS, now playing out in a visible ICE power struggle, and closes with a deep dive into the most contentious NYC mayoral campaign in a generation, where identity politics and progressive proposals are fueling a wave of anxiety and division. Anchored by ground-level reporting and high-profile testimonies, Morning Wire positions itself explicitly as a corrective to mainstream narratives.
