The Ayatollah Speaks & Vaccine Rules Rewritten | 6.27.25

Summary

Morning Wire Episode Summary: The Ayatollah Speaks & Vaccine Rules Rewritten | June 27, 2025

In this episode of Morning Wire, Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley and co-host Georgia Howe delve into significant developments in international relations, public health policy, and local politics. The discussion is enriched with insights from experts and notable quotes, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the current events shaping our world.

Iran's Nuclear Capabilities Debunked Media Reports

The episode opens with a critical analysis of recent media reports concerning Iran's nuclear capabilities. John Bickley references new intelligence indicating that Iran's nuclear program has been "severely damaged", countering both early media narratives and claims made by the Ayatollah (00:04).

Georgia Howe emphasizes the emerging consensus that "Iran's nuclear capabilities were indeed destroyed" (00:11), highlighting the shift in the narrative surrounding Iran's military advancements.

Cabot Phillips, Daily Wire senior editor, provides a detailed breakdown of the situation (02:15). He explains that initial media reports, based on a leaked Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) damage assessment, suggested that Iran's nuclear program was only temporarily set back. However, subsequent intelligence from the CIA and other agencies has contradicted these findings. Phillips notes, "The assessment in question was one of multiple preliminary estimates and that newer intelligence from the CIA and other agencies has shown the damage was much more severe" (03:09).

Furthermore, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized the leaked DIA report, stating, "They had low confidence in their own assessment and that that assessment had not been coordinated with the intelligence community more broadly" (03:45). This sentiment is echoed by the CIA Director, John Radcliffe, who confirmed that "a body of credible intelligence indicates Iran's nuclear program has been severely damaged by recent targeted strikes" (03:48).

Internationally, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) aligned with the White House's stance, declaring that Iran's nuclear program has "suffered enormous damage" (03:59). In response to the leaked report undermining President Trump's claims, the White House announced an FBI investigation to identify the source of the leak (04:17).

RFK Jr. Withdraws Funding from Gavi

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to withdraw funding from Gavi, the global vaccine alliance. Amanda Presto Giacomo introduces the topic (06:30), explaining that RFK Jr. is "halting financial contributions until Gavi can prove to be science-focused and transparent" (06:27).

Georgia Howe elaborates on Gavi's role and the financial implications of this withdrawal. "Gavi is a global vaccine alliance that works to provide vaccinations for low-income people across the globe," she states (06:27). The U.S. has contributed $8 billion since 2001, with an annual contribution of $300 million being withheld for now (06:27).

Kennedy criticized Gavi for "censoring dissenting voices during the COVID pandemic" and "ignoring the science," particularly highlighting concerns over the DTP vaccine (07:40). He cited a 2017 landmark study, stating, "girls vaccinated with DTP were 10 times more likely to die from all causes in the first six months of life than those children who were unvaccinated" (07:56).

In response, Gavi defended its use of the DTP vaccine, arguing that despite higher reaction rates, it offers "longer-lasting protection" necessary for poorer countries where booster shots are less accessible (08:49). Additionally, the Gates Foundation pledged an additional $1.6 billion to support Gavi over the next five years, signaling continued support despite RFK Jr.'s criticisms (08:49).

Changes in US Vaccine Advisory Panels

The discussion shifts to recent developments within the U.S. vaccine advisory landscape. Georgia Howe explains that RFK Jr. has "fired all 17 panelists" from the Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) to restore public trust, citing conflicts of interest (09:27).

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), now with seven new members, has already made recommendations, including a new shot to protect infants against RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) (09:27). This move has garnered significant attention, especially after legacy media outlets predicted the appointment of anti-vaccine proponents to the board. Howe notes, "This vote is getting a lot of attention with legacy media, there was a real panic about RFK gutting a sip" (09:27).

Looking ahead, Georgia Howe anticipates a potential conflict when ACIP addresses the childhood vaccination schedule in the fall. Medical associations like the American Academy of Pediatrics have already indicated they will release their own vaccine schedules, potentially ignoring ACIP's recommendations (10:27). This development underscores a growing schism within the medical community, further strained by disagreements over transgender treatments for children (10:27).

Shock Victory in New York City Mayoral Primary

The episode concludes with an in-depth analysis of the surprising outcome of the New York City mayoral primary, where Democratic Socialist Zoran Mamdani secured a victory that startled many within the Democratic Party. John Bickley introduces Ryan Gardusky, host of the It's a Numbers Game podcast, to unpack the implications of this result (10:51).

Gardusky attributes Mamdani's success to a robust voter turnout among white progressives in areas like Queens and Brooklyn, particularly in Astoria and Long Island City (11:15). Conversely, incumbent Cuomo's support in predominantly black working-class neighborhoods was insufficient. Mamdani also effectively engaged with the Asian community, despite controversial stances on SHSATs (Specialized High Schools Admissions Test) and a growing Muslim population, and managed to garner significant support from the Puerto Rican demographic, despite losing the Dominican vote (11:15).

Addressing criticisms labeling Mamdani as a socialist with extremist views, Gardusky clarifies, "He is a social Marxist... him, identity being the core center of every kind of policy" (12:28). He dispels unfounded claims of Mamdani being a jihadist, emphasizing his Marxist ideology rooted in fighting colonialism, whiteness, and patriarchy (12:28).

Looking ahead to the November elections, Gardusky suggests that while Mamdani has a strong foundation, his path to securing a majority may be challenging if opposition candidates can unify. He posits that potential consolidation among rivals like Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo could pose significant obstacles to Mamdani's continued success (13:29). However, current dynamics indicate that Mamdani remains a formidable contender in the upcoming race (13:46).

Conclusion

This episode of Morning Wire provides a nuanced exploration of critical issues ranging from international security and public health to significant shifts in local political landscapes. By presenting expert analyses and direct quotes, John Bickley and Georgia Howe ensure that listeners are well-informed about the complexities and implications of these developments.

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Note: Advertisements and sponsored segments have been omitted to focus on the core content.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

New intel shows Iran's nuclear capability is severely damaged, refuting early media reports and the Ayatollah's claims.

[Georgia Howe]

There is broad consensus emerging already that Iran's nuclear capabilities were indeed destroyed.

[John Bickley]

I'm Daily Wire Executive Editor John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Friday, June 27th and this is Morning Wire.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

RFK Jr pulls funding from a global vaccine group he says is ignoring the science.

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

I call on Gavi today to re earn the public trust and to justify the $8 billion that America has provided in funding since 2001.

[John Bickley]

And New York is still reeling from a political earthquake after a self styled socialist victory in the Democratic primary for mayor.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Thanks for waking up with Morning Wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need know.

[Brandon]

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[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

New details have emerged on the severity of U.S. airstrikes on Iran as the White House hints at new peace deals with Middle Eastern adversaries.

[John Bickley]

Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips is here to break it all down for us. Hey Cabot. So let's start with these airstrikes. The effectiveness of those has been quite the debate on Capitol Hill. What did we learn yesterday?

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah, the war in Iran may have ended, but the fighting in Washington is still going on, with the White House going to battle with the media over the state of Iran, Iran's nuclear program. And it's more than just semantics. Knocking out Iran's nuclear program could end up being A signature accomplishment of President Trump's second term. And he understandably wants credit if that's the case. For context. Almost immediately after the strikes, which Trump described as, quote, totally obliterating the Iranian nuclear program, the media began reporting otherwise, saying the program had actually only been set back a few months. Central to that claim was a leaked damage assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency, which reportedly claimed that Iran could have their nuclear program up and running by the new year, and also that the three nuclear sites we struck had potentially suffered just moderate damage.

[John Bickley]

Right.

[Cabot Phillips]

Democrats and legacy media quickly jumped on that report, saying it was proof the strike was actually a failure and that Trump was lying to the public.

[John Bickley]

But the White House is strongly disputing that claim.

[Cabot Phillips]

Yes, they are, in a major way. They say the assessment in question was one of multiple preliminary estimates and that newer intelligence from the CIA and other agencies has shown the damage was much more severe. They issued a statement calling the assessment, quote, flat out wrong and a clear attempt to demean President Trump. And then we heard from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said the press failed to report that the leaked documents own words, said they had, quote, low confidence in their own assessment and that that assessment had not been coordinated with the intelligence community more broadly. Here he is from the Pentagon Thursday, quoting from newer reports made after the dust settled.

[Brandon]

John Radcliffe, the director of the CIA.

[Ryan Gardusky]

Putting out a statement just last night. CIA can confirm that a body of credible intelligence indicates Iran's nuclear program has.

[Brandon]

Been severely damaged by recent targeted strikes.

[Cabot Phillips]

And then on Thursday, the International Atomic Energy agency, that's the UN's nuclear watchdog, seemed to agree with the White House, saying Iran's nuclear program, quote, suffered enormous damage. It's also worth noting the White House now says the FBI is investigating to determine who at the DIA was responsible for leaking that classified information.

[John Bickley]

Now, as all of this was going on yesterday, we heard for the first time since the strikes by the US from the Ayatollah. What did we hear from him?

[Cabot Phillips]

Well, first, the fact we heard from him proves that he is alive. There had been some folks questioning that Khomeini hadn't been seen or heard from since Saturday as he refrained from any electronic communication for fear of being targeted. But on Thursday, he released a video striking a defiant tone, declaring victory over the US and Israel and threatening to, quote, take action again if necessary.

[John Bickley]

So Iran's still posturing. Now, we've also heard reports that other countries in the Middle east are very interested in expanding an existing peace deal. Tell us about that.

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah, potentially big news looming in the Middle east as the Trump administration has been hinting for the last 24 hours that a number of countries there may soon join the Abraham Accords. Remember, that deal, brokered by Trump in his first term, normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including Dubai and Bahrain. The White House said that list could soon grow and that Syria could be on it. Israeli officials said yesterday they also believe Lebanon could be included as well.

[John Bickley]

Well, lots to keep track of in the Middle East. Thanks for staying on top of it.

[Cabot Phillips]

Absolutely.

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[John Bickley]

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Announced that the US is withdrawing funding for an international vaccine organization that he says has lost the public's trust.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Here with more is Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presto Giacomo. So Amanda, let's start with this organization, gavi. What is it and how much money is on the line?

[Georgia Howe]

Yeah, so GAVI is a global vaccine alliance that works to provide vaccinations for low income people across the globe. And it was founded by Bill Gates, the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the World bank back in 2000. Gavi says it's vaccinated over 1 billion children and has saved millions of lives. Now RFK did actually commend GAVI for some of its work, specifically keeping medicine affordable, when Kennedy announced that the US Is halting its financial contributions until GAVI can prove to be science focused and transparent. As for how much money is on the line here, you know we're talking at least hundreds of millions of dollars. The US gives $300 million to Gavi annually, so that appears to be withheld for now. But you know, since 2001 the US government has given Gavi $8 billion. So potentially this organization could lose a lot more if no changes are made.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

So why specifically is RFK halting these funds? What are they doing that he finds objectionable?

[Georgia Howe]

Well, Kennedy sent a pretty straightforward video message to a summit of global leaders supporting gavi. He said, for one thing, GAVI helped to censor dissenting voices during the COVID pandemic. And he said they ignored the science.

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

The World Health Organization and GAVI partnered together during the COVID 19 pandemic to recommend best practices for social media companies to silence dissenting views, to stifle free speech and legitimate questions.

[Georgia Howe]

During that period, Kennedy also said that GAVI has not taken vaccine safety seriously enough. He highlighted the group's use of the DTP vaccine.

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

A landmark study in 2017 by five highly regarded mainstream vaccine experts found that girls vaccinated with DTP were 10 times more likely to die from all causes in the first six months of life than those children who were unvaccinated. GAVI has nonetheless promoted the DTP vaccine heavily in developing countries. It's now the most popular vaccine in the world.

[Georgia Howe]

Kennedy said that GAVI has to re earn the public's trust before the US Continues to financially contribute. He advised GAVI to consider the best science available, even when the science contradicts established paradigms.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

So he's leaving the door open to a reversal on this, it sounds like.

[Georgia Howe]

Right.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

And what's Gavi's response been?

[Georgia Howe]

So Gavi put out a statement this week. They didn't respond to everything Kennedy said, but they are standing behind their position to continue use of the DTP vaccine. And they said that though there are more reactions with it, it provides longer lasting protection than the D tap. And they said that's necessary in poorer countries where, you know, booster shots are not as available as they would be in the U.S. also of note, we have the Gates Foundation. In reaction to RFK's comments, they quickly pledged to give $1.6 billion to Gavi over the next five years.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Now, pivoting to some vaccine related news here in the US what is a SIP and what's been going on with them?

[Georgia Howe]

Yeah, so a sip is a highly influential vaccine panel with the CDC. We recently covered how RFK fired all 17 panelists. He said he was doing that to again restore public trust. And he cited conflicts of interest. ACIP actually held its first vote this week with new members. There are seven right now. And they voted to recommend a shot that protects infants against rsv, a respiratory virus that can be deadly for babies. This vote is getting a lot of attention with legacy Media, there was a real panic about RFK gutting a sip. They said that there were going to be anti vaxxers put on this board. And I think, you know, this vote does kind of fly in the face of that narrative. Now what's going to be really interesting is when ACIP tackles the childhood vaccination schedule that will likely take place in the fall. We're already seeing medical associations protest that. The American Academy of Pediatrics, for example, they said they'll release their own vaccine schedule and basically ignore asip, which they used to be a liaison for.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Well, as we just reported, they also are at odds with the administration over transgender treatments for children. So a growing schism there. Amanda, thanks for reporting.

[Georgia Howe]

You're welcome.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Democratic Socialist Zoran Mamdani shocked New York and many in the Democratic Party by rising out of seemingly nowhere to win the New York City mayoral primary.

[John Bickley]

Joining us to unpack what just happened and what comes next in New York is Ryan Gardusky, host of It's a Numbers Game podcast. Ryan, thanks for coming on.

[Ryan Gardusky]

Thank you for having me.

[John Bickley]

So look, this is a rather stunning victory by Mamdani, at least for those who hadn't been tracking this closely. He was able to force Cuomo to concede before the first day of counting was even done. Didn't see that coming first. How did Mamdani pull this off?

[Ryan Gardusky]

Mandani pulled it off by increasing the turnout among mostly white progressives who live not in Manhattan, but in all the areas in Queens to Brooklyn around Manhattan. Places like Astoria that he represents in the state Assembly. Astoria and its neighboring town of Long Island City had more people turn out than all of the black working class neighborhoods combined. In Queens county, those were the Cuomo areas. So Cuomo's turnout was not high enough among black voters. And at the same exact time, Mandani's voter turnout was absolutely like general election turnout. And that along with being able to siphon off support from the Asian community, he had immense amount of Asian outreach, despite being against SHSATs and the growing Muslim population certainly helped him. And then his last part of his coalition was he was able to splinter a sizable chunk of the Hispanic vote that do not live in the Bronx. He lost the Bronx terribly. But among other Hispanic communities, he did very, very well. It was almost like it was Dominicans versus Puerto Ricans. He won the Puerto Rican vote, but lost the Dominican vote. It was very. It was very interesting.

[John Bickley]

He's been described as a socialist with extremist views on everything from defunding the police to Transing kids. Is that fair? What exactly does he actually espouse?

[Ryan Gardusky]

What is not fair that I've heard right wingers say is that they've said he's a jihadist. I don't believe that at all. He is Muslim. But he has also said things like defunding the police is part of queer liberation. Someone in Gaza does not care about queer liberation, I promise you. So the I think that what he is is a social Marxist. He is somebody who believes that his coalition is the one fighting against colonialism, whiteness, patriarchy. He's part of that group that came out of that and this is where he comes from. His father is a devout Marxist who came out of Uganda as an Indian immigrant. Ironically, they were kicked out of Uganda and his politics became much more left wing. But he is a devout, true believing Marxist who comes out of identity being the core center of every kind of policy.

[John Bickley]

This win by Mamdani seems to have finally gotten the attention of a lot of New Yorkers. There are stop Mamdani groups popping up all over. Does he have a chance in November?

[Ryan Gardusky]

I mean, Mandani has a great chance in November there. I don't think he's going to get a majority of the vote. I don't think he'll cross 50%. But because the anti Mandani vote is splintered among people who have very problematic backgrounds.

[John Bickley]

Right.

[Ryan Gardusky]

I think that all of these people are problematic and if they were to drop out or one or two to drop out and coalesce, they could probably beat him. I don't know if anyone's ego is small enough to allow that to happen.

[John Bickley]

Who has the best chance against him.

[Ryan Gardusky]

If, let's say Eric Adams were to stay in by himself without Cuomo and he was able to splinter off the Upper west side, you know, ultra white liberal Jewish voter along with black voters and Curtis Lewa could take the increasing working class, multiracial working class Trump base with him. It would be Sliwa. If it's a four way when they have to sit there and condense it, I would probably say if they could all coalesce on Andrew Cuomo, it might be the best chance they have.

[John Bickley]

Ryan, thanks so much for joining us.

[Ryan Gardusky]

Thank you.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Thanks for waking up with us. And if you're watching on YouTube, please like and subscribe. We'll be back later this evening with more news. You need to know.

[Brandon]

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