Morning Wire Podcast Summary Episode: Tesla Attacks Investigated & Trump Battles Legal Injunctions | March 20, 2025

Introduction In this episode of Morning Wire, hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe delve into pressing issues affecting the political and corporate landscapes. The discussion centers on the escalating attacks against Tesla and Elon Musk, the turmoil surrounding President Trump's executive actions, and a deep dive into corruption within a federal agency.

1. Escalating Attacks on Tesla Facilities and Owners

Timestamp: [00:03 - 03:17]

Georgia Howe opens the discussion by highlighting the unexpected backlash against Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk. Once favored by the left, Tesla is now facing increasing hostility from Democratic factions.

John Bickley emphasizes the severity of the situation:

"They basically want to kill me because I'm stopping their fraud. And they want to hurt Tesla because we're stopping this terrible waste and corruption in the government."
[00:09]

Cabot Phillips, Daily Wire senior editor, provides detailed accounts of violent incidents targeting Tesla:

"This week alone, we saw a Tesla facility attacked with Molotov cocktails and firearms in Las Vegas... similar cases at dealerships in Kansas City, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Washington."
[01:54]

The attacks extend beyond dealerships to individual Tesla owners, with incidents of cars being keyed, spray-painted, or having windows broken. Musk has also been the target of credible death threats, culminating in the arrest of an Indiana man for threatening his life.

Attorney General Pam Bondi responds by categorizing these attacks as domestic terrorism:

"Perpetrators will be hit with 5 year mandatory minimum sentences and there will be severe consequences for, quote, those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes."
[02:56]

2. Decline in Tesla's Stock and Political Repercussions

Timestamp: [03:17 - 04:16]

The episode transitions to the financial impact of the attacks on Tesla. Cabot Phillips reports:

"Since Musk took on a more prominent role in the Trump administration, Tesla has been just hammered on Wall Street with nine straight weeks of losses. They're now down 53% from their all-time high back in December."
[03:29]

Former Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz is mentioned for his stance against Tesla:

"They should sell their stock in the company as well."
[03:52]

Caroline Levitt, White House Press Secretary, criticizes Walz:

"I think Governor Walz unfortunately is living a sad existence after his devastating defeat on November 5th."
[04:09]

Phillips adds a layer of irony, noting Minnesota's state retirement fund's substantial investment in Tesla:

"Minnesota... held more than 1.6 million shares of Tesla stock in its state retirement fund."
[04:16]

3. Elon Musk's Successful Rescue Mission for Stranded Astronauts

Timestamp: [04:27 - 05:32]

Amidst the turmoil, good news emerges as Elon Musk successfully facilitates the rescue of astronauts stranded on the International Space Station (ISS). Cabot Phillips narrates the ordeal:

"SUNY Williams and Butch Wilmore were originally supposed to spend just eight days aboard the ISS, but they spent nine months trapped in space after their Boeing Starliner ship malfunctioned."
[04:34]

Musk offered to assist, but the Biden administration initially rebuffed the offer. With Trump's support, Musk's SpaceX partnered with NASA to execute the rescue, culminating in a safe splashdown on Tuesday. In gratitude, Butch Wilmore and another astronaut received heartfelt messages from both Musk and President Trump:

"All of us have the utmost respect... We appreciate President Trump."
[05:10]

This mission not only marked a personal victory for Musk but also reinforced SpaceX's prominence in aerospace.

4. Investigation into the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)

Timestamp: [06:16 - 10:38]

President Trump's recent executive order aimed at eliminating or shrinking seven small agencies and boards brings attention to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). Luke Rosiak, the Daily Wire's government efficiency reporter, uncovers extensive corruption within FMCS.

Daniel Huff, Senior Legal Fellow, outlines the misuse of resources:

"This is an agency that prior to the Pandemic had a nine story office tower in K Street for only 60 employees... built an in-house gym, smoking lounge, showers in their office."
[07:25]

Huff exposes fraudulent activities, including inflated expenses and nepotism:

"They steered $1,500 a day contracts to friends... employees were using government purchase cards to buy personal items like a BMW and cable TV packages."
[08:27]

A telling employee quote reveals the agency's dysfunctional culture:

"Let me give you the honest truth... I just don't feel like working that hard... management doesn't seem to care if we stay out at lunch a long time."
[09:16]

Despite the findings being over a decade old, meaningful action had previously stalled. With the agency now abolished, the investigation sheds light on long-standing inefficiencies and corruption within government bodies.

5. Legal Battles and Judicial Injunctions Against the Trump Administration

Timestamp: [10:38 - 14:49]

The episode shifts focus to the ongoing legal challenges facing President Trump's executive actions. Caroline Levitt discusses the judiciary's role:

"There is a concerted effort by the far left to judge shop, to pick judges who are clearly acting as partisan activists."
[10:44]

John Bickley and Daniel Huff analyze the issue of injunction bonds, a key requirement allegedly ignored by judges issuing temporary restraining orders against Trump's policies:

"These judges are ignoring a key rule, the injunction bond requirement, and that effectively invalidates their orders."
[11:09]

Levitt explains the bond requirement:

"A judge may issue an injunction... only if the party seeking that restraining order posts bond to compensate the party being restrained from any damages..."
[11:35]

The improper setting of bond amounts, often too low, undermines the validity of these injunctions. Examples include bonds set at merely $100, which are insufficient to cover potential government costs:

"Injunction was set at $100... it's a lot more than $100."
[13:12]

The discussion anticipates escalations to the Supreme Court, but concerns about delays and the reliability of the conservative majority prevail:

"There's a danger... the Supreme Court conservative majority is not always been reliable... things take time, momentum is lost."
[13:52]

Caroline Levitt remains optimistic about the Trump administration's efforts to cut costs and eliminate waste:

"I think that ultimately they will be successful more often than not... it's hard to argue with Doge when it says that this kind of thing does occur in government."
[14:38]

Conclusion The episode of Morning Wire provides a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted challenges facing Elon Musk, Tesla, and the Trump administration. From violent attacks and financial downturns to successful rescue missions and exposés of government corruption, the hosts present a narrative of resilience and strategic maneuvering against favorable odds.

Notable Quotes:

• John Bickley on attacks against Tesla:

  "They basically want to kill me because I'm stopping their fraud..."
  [00:09]

• Daniel Huff on FMCS corruption:

  "They built an in-house gym... showers in their office."
  [07:25]

• Caroline Levitt on injunction bonds:

  "The bond was set at $100... it's a lot more than $100."
  [13:12]

• Butch Wilmore expressing gratitude:

  "All of us have the utmost respect... We appreciate President Trump."
  [05:10]

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