Morning Wire – "Trump Feuds With NATO & The Media’s Epic Fury"

Date: March 18, 2026
Hosts: John Bickley & Georgia Howe
Key Guests: Cabot Phillips, Tim Rice, Ben Domenech

Episode Overview

This episode examines three interwoven crises:

• President Trump’s deepening rift with NATO allies over the ongoing Iran war and allied reluctance to assist.
• Internal dissent within Trump's administration, punctuated by a high-profile resignation.
• The media’s highly critical tone toward both the conflict and Trump himself, set against a backdrop of record-low trust in journalism.
  The hosts also provide updates on the DHS partial shutdown and the charged battle over the SAVE Act in Congress.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tensions Between Trump and NATO (00:29, 06:41)

• The US-led “Operation Epic Fury” in Iran has entered its 19th day, with mounting pressure on NATO allies to provide direct assistance, which so far has not materialized.
• Trump publicly critiques allies for their inertia, stating:

  “We will protect them, but they will do nothing for us. ... We do not need the help of anyone.”
  (Donald Trump, 06:41)

• Trump maintains he can take major military decisions without congressional approval, fueling further controversy.

  “When they don't help us, I mean, it's certainly something that we should think about. I don't need Congress for that decision.”
  (Donald Trump, 00:35)

2. Trump Administration Division & Joe Kent’s Resignation (03:00–05:52, 15:56)

• Joe Kent, Trump’s top counterterrorism official, abruptly resigns, citing the Iran war as unjustified and triggered by "pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby."
• Kent’s resignation letter accuses the administration of pursuing war where “no imminent threat” exists and claims past actions, like the killing of Soleimani, were more prudent.
• Trump responds bluntly:

  "It's a good thing that he's out because he said that Iran was not a threat. Iran was a threat. Every country realized ... When somebody is working with us that says they didn't think Iran was a threat, we don't want those people."
  (Donald Trump, 04:10)

• Cabot Phillips notes the irony of counterterrorism dissent over action against "the world's #1 state sponsor of terrorism," as well as inconsistencies in Kent's prior stances.
• Apparent crack in the administration’s united front, but Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard publicly sides with Trump’s right to determine imminent threats.
• Ben Domenech on internal dissent:

  "If you disagree with something that fundamentally, you should quit. ... That could be an isolated incident or it could ... lead to further falling apart of the president's team."
  (Ben Domenech, 15:56)

3. On-the-Ground Updates in Iran (05:52–06:41)

• Two high-profile regime assassinations:
  • Brig. General Ghulam Reza Suleimani (militia head)
  • Ali Larani (Supreme National Security Council chief, considered de facto leader)
• Trump frames these as dismantling Iran’s capacity for brutal repression:

  “He was in charge of the killing of protesters. It’s an evil group.”
  (Donald Trump, 06:33)

4. DHS Partial Shutdown & Congressional Stalemate (08:14–11:46)

• Tim Rice details the lingering partial government shutdown, stemming from Democrats’ push to defund CBP and ICE following deaths in Minnesota.
• The shutdown acutely impacts the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis—80% working without pay, despite rising Iran-linked attacks at home.

  "These are people who we need working right now. We need them fully funded."
  (Tim Rice, 09:46)

• Trump blames Democrats; the White House is attempting to negotiate (offering bodycam expansion, restrictions on enforcement at schools/hospitals).
• The SAVE Act, with voter ID measures, meets Congressional gridlock despite Trump’s intense advocacy and threats to withhold endorsements from uncooperative Senate Republicans.

5. Media Coverage – "Operation Epic Fury" (12:11–16:55)

• Ben Domenech critiques "hostile" media coverage, noting the rapid shift from prior sympathy for Iranian protesters to opposition against Trump’s military intervention.

  "What's stunning ... is that many ... entities ... have actually covered the Iranian people with great sympathy... Now... the media has completely shifted their tone and they've basically said they're going to declare this a defeat before we even have the time to assess it."
  (Ben Domenech, 12:55)

• Speed and success of US/Israeli strikes contrast with media’s eagerness to frame the conflict as “Trump’s defeat.”
• Public opinion splits sharply:
  • Trump supporters: overwhelmingly behind the war (9/10 support)
  • Independents: skeptical, focusing on economic impact
  • Democrats: generally opposed
• Domenech dispels the media’s narrative of “coalition fracture,” seeing little evidence of MAGA base splintering:

  "The thing that I do think is a false narrative ... is that somehow this is going to break up the president’s coalition... I just don't see that happening or any evidence of that happening."
  (Ben Domenech, 14:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Trump on autonomy in NATO decisions:

  “I don't need Congress for that decision.” (00:35)

• Joe Kent's resignation and its impact:

  “He cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran, which ... posed no imminent threat to our nation.” (Reported by Cabot Phillips, 03:14)

• Ben Domenech on media bias:

  “They've basically said that they're going to declare this a defeat before we even have the time to assess it.” (12:55)

• Polling insights:

  “If you're looking at the president's supporters, they're enormously supportive of this... Independents ... are worried about the price of gas.” (Ben Domenech, 14:38)

• Domenech on dissent:

  “If you disagree with something ... you should quit.” (15:56)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:29: Iran war update and Trump–NATO tensions
• 03:00–05:52: Joe Kent resignation and intra-administration unrest
• 05:52–06:41: Iran regime decapitation strikes
• 08:14–11:46: DHS shutdown effects, SAVE Act standoff
• 12:11–16:55: Media narrative, polling, public opinion, and unity in Trump’s base

Tone & Style

The hosts maintain a brisk, fact-focused and sometimes skeptical tone with pointed questions, while expert guests provide brisk, analytical commentary. Trump’s quotes provide a combative element, while coverage of administration drama and media criticism reflects The Daily Wire’s anti-mainstream-media, pro-Trump editorial line.

In short: The episode keenly dissects Trump’s widening international and domestic challenges in the Iran conflict, underscores partisan divides in media coverage and public sentiment, and spotlights the political gridlock stalling both the administration and key institutions at home.