Morning Wire: “Shutdown Nears End & ‘Black Box’ Warning Reversed”

Podcast: Morning Wire
Hosts: John Bickley, Georgia Howe
Date: November 12, 2025

Overview

This episode covers two major stories: the approaching resolution of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, with a focus on the politics behind the deal and media coverage; and a landmark decision by the FDA to remove black box warnings from hormone replacement therapy drugs, reversing a more than two-decade-old stance and sparking discussion about medical groupthink and the influence of flawed studies. The show also reflects on Veterans Day remarks by President Trump and offers analysis on the healthcare debate and media bias.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Government Shutdown: End in Sight and Political Fallout

Segment begins ~[02:35]

• Senate has approved reopening the government, with eight Democrats breaking ranks; the bill heads to the House, with votes planned for later that day.
• The political climate is highly charged, with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer facing calls within his own party to step down, potentially even being primaried by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in 2028.
• The continuing resolution will fund the government only through the end of January, potentially setting the stage for another shutdown debate and a renewed fight over healthcare subsidies.
• Republican Speaker Mike Johnson distances himself from the Senate deal, and President Trump floats the idea of "Trumpcare," suggesting subsidies should directly benefit individuals through health savings accounts rather than insurance companies ([05:16]):

  “Instead of going to the insurance companies, I want the money to go into an account for people where the people buy their own health insurance. If we did that, that would be so exciting. And call it Trumpcare.” – President Trump ([05:16])

• President Trump also gave a keynote at Arlington National Cemetery for Veteran's Day, highlighting stories of American military valor ([05:47]).

2. FDA Reverses Black Box Warning on Hormone Replacement Therapy

Segment begins ~[08:08]

• The FDA, under Commissioner Dr. Martin Carey, is removing “black box” warnings from hormone replacement therapy (HRT) drugs for menopause—warnings initially based on a flawed 2002 study linking HRT to breast cancer.
• Fewer than 5% of menopausal women currently use HRT, with experts estimating that 50–70 million women were discouraged from treatment due to the previous warnings.
• Dr. Makary, interviewed by the show, outlines profound benefits when HRT is started within years of menopause, emphasizing that the previous policy denied women life-changing or life-saving options:

  “Women who go through menopause and start hormone replacement therapy have profound short term and long term health benefits, including reducing the risk of bone fractures by 50 to 60% later in life, reducing the risk of fatal heart attacks by 30 to 50%... and reducing cognitive decline.” – Dr. Makary ([09:34]) “There may be no medication in the modern era aside from perhaps antibiotics or vaccines that can improve the health outcomes of women on a population level more than hormone replacement therapy started within 10 years of the onset of menopause.” – Dr. Makary ([09:53])

• The FDA’s move is widely praised by major medical groups (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, The Menopause Society, et al.) and even by heterodox voices like Dr. Peter Attia:

  “An incredible mistake was made 25 years ago, and it's very hard not to argue that this is the greatest single failure of the modern medical system.” – Dr. Peter Attia ([11:45])

• The FDA frames the decision as a rejection of groupthink and fear-driven policy, solidifying a return to evidence-based medicine ([10:34]).

3. Media Bias in Shutdown Coverage

Segment begins ~[12:52]

• Senior editor Virginia Kruta cites a Media Research Center (MRC) study showing 87% of network shutdown coverage favored Democrats; only 13% was critical of them.

  “The numbers really tell that story... they found that 87% of the network coverage was actually favoring Democrats.” – Virginia Kruta ([13:11])

• Methodology focused on “nonpartisan” anchors and experts, not explicitly partisan guests.
• Only a minority of news reports acknowledged facts about how the shutdown started or who blocked funding resolutions — just 12.5% (ABC/CBS) and 31% (NBC) included these basics ([13:38]).
• Rising Democratic dissatisfaction with those who broke ranks and voted for compromise:

  “CNN pollster Harry Entin: What about Democrats nationwide feeling about Chuck Schumer? I think the word of the day is terrible, terrible, terrible, terrible... the least popular Dem Senate leader ever.” ([15:00])

• Liberal commentators and shows like The View and politicians like Bernie Sanders and Gavin Newsom condemn the compromise, with arguments that conceding to reopen government gives Trump a symbolic win ([16:14]).
• Key conclusion: traditional networks “aren’t even trying to hide” their bias ([16:35]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On HRT’s impact:

  "Fewer than 5% of menopausal women take HRT. Dr. Makary says that between 50 to 70 million women have been denied or discouraged from taking this treatment since that study was mainstreamed." – Amanda Prestigiacomo ([08:33])

• On media coverage:

  “The legacy news networks aren’t even trying to hide their degree of bias against Republicans at this point.” – Virginia Kruta ([16:35])

• On party infighting:

  “Are you willing to gamble that the GOP will negotiate on health care in good faith once the government reopens?” – The View ([16:09])

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:35 | Government shutdown nears resolution: political and practical implications | | 05:15 | Trump proposes “Trumpcare”: health savings and direct subsidies | | 05:47 | Trump’s Veterans Day remarks: honoring American military heroes | | 08:08 | FDA removes black box warning on HRT | | 09:34 | Dr. Makary details benefits of HRT | | 11:45 | Peter Attia: reversal is “greatest single failure” address | | 12:52 | Media coverage of the shutdown—bias and narrative setting | | 13:11 | Virginia Kruta on media bias statistics | | 13:38 | Discussion of methodology in reporting shutdown origins | | 15:00 | Democratic blowback against Schumer; Harry Entin pollster quote | | 16:35 | Summary on news network bias |

Tone & Language

The tone of the episode is factual but pointed, with a clear skepticism toward mainstream media narratives and a focus on perceived bias and misrepresentation, especially regarding government shutdown coverage and medical orthodoxy. Expert interviews and data are foregrounded, and direct, often critical quotes are liberally included for emphasis.

Summary

This episode of Morning Wire provides a detailed look at national developments: the imminent end of a historic government shutdown, the tangled politics of the resulting compromise and looming health care fight, a historic FDA reversal on HRT, and the pronounced media bias in shutdown reporting. Through expert guests, polling data, and commentary, the episode critiques the legacy media and amplifies voices advocating for evidence over fear and for empowering individuals in health and policy decisions.