Morning Wire Podcast Summary

Episode: Shutdown Fuels “No Kings” & Legacy Media Revamps | 10.16.26
Air Date: October 17, 2025
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe

Overview

This episode dives into three key stories shaping America’s political and media landscape:

1. The ongoing government shutdown and the related “No Kings” protests in D.C.
2. Dramatic shake-ups at major legacy media networks (NBC & CBS), notably concerning DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programming.
3. The exclusion of conservative journalists from a major “nonpartisan” media conference, exposing shifting attitudes within the industry.

The tone is urgent, skeptical of legacy media's motives, and openly supportive of alternatives like The Daily Wire.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Government Shutdown and “No Kings” Rally

• Status and Stalemate

  • The federal government is in the 16th day of a shutdown, matching the 2013 Obamacare-related closure and nearing the 2018 shutdown’s 35-day record (02:57).
  • Both parties remain entrenched:
    • Democrats demand Republican concessions on healthcare, notably extending Affordable Care Act tax credits.
    • Republicans insist the government must reopen before negotiations (03:29).

• Role of Leadership and Public Opinion

  • Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer leads Democrats, but there are indications of growing pressure from rank-and-file members for a deal (04:02).
  • Republicans are winning the messaging war by emphasizing efforts to ensure that essential workers, like soldiers, are paid despite the shutdown (04:28).

• Notable Quote

  • President Donald Trump (on blaming Democrats):

    “This is a Democrat Schumer shutdown and he’s trying to do it to get relevance back into the party because he’s a loser. I’ve known him all his life. He’s always been sort of a loser, but an intelligent one. But I think he’s losing IQ points with time.”
    ([04:52] President Trump)

• “No Kings” Rally

  • Scheduled for the weekend with Schumer and other Democratic leaders set to attend (05:32).
  • Internal documents show the rally is being used to amplify shutdown messaging and feature speakers affected by layoffs due to the government closure.

• International Tensions

  • In parallel, Ukrainian President Zelensky is meeting Trump at the White House. Trump also recently called Russian President Putin. Potential movement on the Ukraine-Russia War is anticipated (06:00).

2. Legacy Media Shakeups: NBC, CBS & The DEI Backlash

• NBC Layoffs and DEI Restructuring

  • NBC to cut 7% of its news staff (~150 out of 2000 journalists), heavily impacting DEI-specific roles (07:28).
  • DEI teams covering Black, Asian American, Latino, and LGBTQ+ issues are “hit the hardest.” These topics will now be “farmed out” to the general newsroom (08:45).

• Interpreting the Cuts

  • Megan Basham suggests that DEI initiatives are being cut due to changing public opinion and financial pressures (08:50).
  • Trend observed across media—CNN and Los Angeles Times previously cut similar verticals focused on race and ethnicity (10:03).
  • Possible influence from Trump administration policies against DEI, suggesting a broader cultural and strategic shift (10:03).

• Notable Quote

  • Megan Basham on DEI layoffs:

    “…In lean times, trendy products are the first to go. And that’s especially true if public opinion has shifted on those trends. And I think we can say that we have seen quite a shift in the last couple of years on that question of DEI.”
    ([08:50] Megan Basham)

• CBS Revamp

  • CBS recruits Bari Weiss, known for her independent views, to shake up its newsroom. This is seen as a move to broaden perspective and separate from its cable networks’ overt political leanings (10:03).

3. Conservative Journalists Removed from Media Conference

• Media Fest Exclusions

  • Daily Wire's Mary Margaret Olahan and The Daily Signal’s Virginia Allen were uninvited from a “nonpartisan” event, Media Fest.
  • Ostensible reason: their reporting and faith-based views, which were labeled “anti-LGBT” by organizers (12:15).

• Firsthand Accounts

  • Mary Margaret Olahan

    • Was to speak on a faith panel about abortion, marriage, gender, and family.

    • Accuses organizers of suppressing conservative/journalistic diversity in favor of preferred ideologies (12:48).

    • Notable quote:

      “…A lot of the reporters who are giving us our news right now are not currently people of faith, and they’re very religiously illiterate. So we could have been offering a really interesting perspective here, and unfortunately, we won’t be.”
      ([12:48] Mary Margaret Olahan)

    • Highlights double standard: left-leaning figures like Nikole Hannah-Jones (1619 Project) were welcomed (13:57).

  • Virginia Allen

    • Says she was excluded for reporting on unaccounted-for migrant children found during Trump’s administration (14:13).
    • Feels the issue was their open pro-life, pro-traditional marriage stance and willingness to report positive Trump news.
    • Notable quote:

      “I think at the end of the day, it comes down to the fact that they didn't like individuals speaking at their conference who are openly pro life, who openly believe that marriage is between a man and a woman, and who quite frankly are bold enough to sometimes report some of the good things that the Trump administration is doing for our country.”
      ([14:27] Virginia Allen)

• Changing Media Environment

  • Allen notes increased openness from the current Trump administration compared to “radio silence” under Biden, enabling more direct access for conservative outlets (15:32).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Shutdown Messaging:

  • “No one ever really comes off great in a government shutdown fight, but Republicans have really managed to stay on top of this one.”
    — Tim Rice, [04:28]

• On Legacy Media Cuts:

  • “Prior to these layoffs, NBC had teams specifically dedicated to those DEI categories… those are still going to exist. But pretty much all of the dedicated staff… they’re gone.”
    — Megan Basham, [08:45]

• On Media Fest Exclusion:

  • “At the end of the day, that seems pretty biased to me to get rid of a different perspective.”
    — Mary Margaret Olahan, [13:24]

• On New Openness in the Media:

  • “Now all of a sudden, we have an administration that’s willing to engage and speak to all media… a tone change that started in D.C. and now has rippled out across the rest of the country.”
    — Virginia Allen, [15:32]

Key Timestamps

• 02:57 — Shutdown’s current status and context
• 03:29 — Entrenched party positions and prospects for ending the shutdown
• 04:52 — President Trump blames Democrats
• 05:32 — “No Kings” rally strategy and Democratic involvement
• 06:00 — Zelensky and Trump/Putin diplomatic developments
• 07:28 — NBC layoffs and the focus on DEI roles
• 08:50 — Analysis of why DEI is being cut
• 10:03 — Broader industry trend, CBS’ new approach
• 12:48 — Mary Margaret Olahan on her Media Fest exclusion
• 14:13 — Virginia Allen details the organizers’ rationale
• 15:32 — Allen on the Trump-era shift for conservative media access

Conclusion

This episode is a brisk, punchy look at the volatile intersection of politics, protest, and media. The hosts position themselves and The Daily Wire as both correctives to and victims of legacy media’s perceived bias, showing how deep political currents—from shutdown standoffs in D.C. to the fate of DEI in newsrooms—are reshaping the American discourse and who gets a microphone.

For those seeking a rundown of this week’s drama—on Capitol Hill, in newsrooms, and at media conferences—this episode is a snapshot of the shifting ground beneath both politics and journalism.