Morning Wire: Shutdown Fallout Mounts & Congress Probes Political Violence

Date: October 28, 2025
Hosts: John Bickley and Georgia Howe
Podcast: Morning Wire, The Daily Wire

Episode Overview

This episode of Morning Wire covers the expanding consequences of the ongoing government shutdown as it approaches the one-month mark, explores fallout for both parties—especially the Democrats, and dives into Congressional hearings on political violence in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination. The episode also provides updates on President Trump’s diplomatic efforts in Asia and the controversy surrounding his renovation of the White House East Wing.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Escalating Fallout from the Government Shutdown

Segment Start: 02:35

• Air Travel in Crisis

  • 13,000 air traffic controllers miss their first paycheck, many resorting to gig work like DoorDash, worsening staffing shortages.
  • Major flight disruptions: "8,700 flights were delayed on Sunday and yesterday. More than 3,000 were delayed and over 100 were canceled outright." (John Bickley, 02:48)
  • Airports have become a "flashpoint" as both controllers and TSA staff are among the first hit.

• Labor Unions Turning on Democrats

  • The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union for federal workers, publicly demands an end to the shutdown.
    • Statement: "It's time for leaders to start focusing on how to solve problems for the American people rather than who is going to get the blame for the shutdown that Americans dislike." (Amber Joe Cooper, 03:45)
  • The union calls for a "clean continuing resolution," matching multiple Republican proposals rejected by Democrats.

• Food Stamps Set to Lapse

  • SNAP (food stamp) benefits expiring November 1st, impacting 40 million Americans.
    • "Not only is this affecting airports, but now some states... are going to have to be forced to cut off SNAP benefits." (Amber Joe Cooper, 04:49)
  • Both parties forced to confront the direct impact on constituents, while states like California start blaming Republicans for the lapse.

• Political Blame Game Intensifies

  • Reports of state agencies texting residents to blame Trump and Republicans for SNAP cuts.
  • Republicans retort, "Gavin Newsom using taxpayer money to spread political propaganda." (John Bickley, 05:18)
  • "Each new disruption is going to hit Democrats harder than Republicans." (John Bickley, 05:40)

2. Congressional Probe into Political Violence

Segment Start: 06:58

• Assassination of Charlie Kirk Spurs Hearing

  • Republican Senator Eric Schmidt leads Senate hearings on left-wing political violence.

• Senator Eric Schmidt on the Left's Violence

  • "This isn't a one off thing. This is sort of an ideology that's taken hold now... Over 55% on the left believe it's at least somewhat justifiable to assassinate President Trump. There's a problem." (Sen. Eric Schmidt, 07:25)
  • Goal is to “expose the truth... overwhelmingly coming from one side.”

• Historical Perspective

  • Left-wing violence is not new: "You could go back to the 1960s with the Weather Underground, but it's playing out now at a more rapid pace and a much bigger scale..." (Sen. Eric Schmidt, 08:13)

• Testimony from Michael Knowles

  • Invited due to being targeted by leftist violence, specifically at the University of Pittsburgh.
    • "There was a large demonstration. They burnt me in effigy, lit the street on fire. Then two antifa operatives showed up and threw smoke bombs and a large explosive firework at police—seriously injuring a female officer." (Michael Knowles, 08:57)
  • Claims “left-wing violence is underreported or misclassified”:
    • "The way that the Democrats are able to make the claim that most political violence comes from the right is by not counting any of the left wing violence." (Michael Knowles, 09:55)
    • BLM riots often "not classified as left wing violence".
  • Praises focused federal action:
    • "The federal government has successfully dismantled the Ku Klux Klan, organized crime… President Trump putting this renewed focus on it, I think is very important." (Michael Knowles, 10:48)

3. White House & Trump Foreign Policy Updates

Segment Start: 11:37

• Trump’s Asia Tour and Trade Deals

  • Fresh from a peace deal between Thailand and Cambodia, Trump heads to Japan and meets new PM Sanae Takaichi, called a “protégé of Shinzo Abe”.

  • Japan agrees to buy more "American pickup trucks, oil and gas, and agricultural products." (Cabot Phillips, 11:56)

  • Ongoing trade deals: Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and now Japan.

  • Anticipation builds for Thursday’s Trump-Xi Jinping (China) meeting; investors optimistic about deal on tariffs and rare-earth minerals.

    • Market Reaction: "Dow, NASDAQ and S&P 500 all hit record highs on Monday... Investors believe that China is about to open up the flow of rare earth minerals as part of this looming deal." (Cabot Phillips, 13:11)

• White House East Wing Renovation Controversy

  • Trump demolishes the East Wing for a 90,000 sq. ft. ballroom funded by private donations.
    • "Often they were forced to erect makeshift tents on the White House lawn... posed a lot of security concerns." (Cabot Phillips, 14:20)
  • Historical context provided: Prior presidents have renovated, but the backlash is unprecedented.
    • "Teddy Roosevelt, Taft, FDR, Truman, Nixon, Obama, all of them added things... But it is Donald Trump who is bearing the brunt of the criticism..." (Mary Margaret Olihan, 14:49)

• Legal Challenge

  • A lawsuit alleges violation of the National Historic Preservation Act—yet the administration claims it operates within its rights.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Shutdown’s Human Toll:

  • "We've already seen reports of air traffic controllers taking second jobs as DoorDash drivers and things like that to supplement their income."
    – John Bickley (02:48)

• On SNAP (Food Stamps):

  • "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are expiring on November 1st, and that will impact 40 million people."
    – Amber Joe Cooper (04:49)

• On Political Violence:

  • "This is sort of an ideology that's taken hold now... where assassinating people you disagree with is justifiable to these people."
    – Sen. Eric Schmidt (07:25)
  • "The way that the Democrats are able to make the claim that most political violence comes from the right is by not counting any of the left wing violence."
    – Michael Knowles (09:55)

• On Market and Economic Confidence:

  • "Gold, cryptocurrency and oil prices all spiked on Monday and global markets rallied to all time highs across Asia..."
    – Cabot Phillips (13:11)

• On the White House Renovation:

  • "Keep in mind, Teddy Roosevelt, Taft, FDR, Truman, Nixon, Obama, all of them added things to the White House or made certain renovations or removed things away. But it is Donald Trump who is bearing the brunt of the criticism here..."
    – Mary Margaret Olihan (14:49)
  • “A little late for that lawsuit.”
    — Georgia Howe (15:52)

Key Timestamps

• 02:35 – Start of Shutdown coverage: pay delays and union position shifts
• 04:49 – Food stamp (SNAP) expiration and political implications
• 06:58 – Congressional hearing on political violence and testimony preview
• 08:57 – Michael Knowles recounts personal experience with leftist political violence
• 11:37 – Trump’s Asia diplomacy: trade deals, economic reactions
• 14:20 – White House renovation controversy explained
• 14:49 – Historical perspective on White House changes
• 15:29 – Legal challenges to East Wing demolition

Summary

This Morning Wire episode delivers an in-depth look at two of the country’s most contentious ongoing stories: the deepening government shutdown and the rising tide of political violence, with both issues refracted through a distinctly conservative lens.

• The shutdown’s pain is spreading, hitting workers, travelers, and millions of SNAP recipients, with Democrats now struggling against pressure from labor unions and enduring bad optics as disruptions mount.
• On political violence, the assassination of Charlie Kirk ignites Congressional hearings, with Republican leaders and conservative commentators asserting that left-wing extremism is underreported and minimized.
• Finally, significant updates on President Trump’s diplomatic successes in Asia and the domestic uproar over a grand White House ballroom expansion round out a fast-moving, news-packed episode.

Listeners are left with a clear sense of deepening partisan divides, rising political stakes, and an administration unafraid of controversy at home or abroad.