Trump Presses NATO & NYC’s Mayoral Showdown | 6.25.25

Summary

Morning Wire Summary: Trump Presses NATO & NYC’s Mayoral Showdown | 06.25.25

Release Date: June 25, 2025

In this episode of Morning Wire, Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley and co-host Georgia Howe delve into pressing national and international issues, including former President Donald Trump’s diplomatic maneuvers with NATO, the high-stakes New York City mayoral race, and controversial stances within the American Medical Association (AMA). The discussion is enriched with insightful analyses, notable quotes, and expert opinions, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the latest developments.

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I. Trump’s Diplomatic Efforts and NATO Pressure

The episode opens with a focus on Donald Trump’s recent diplomatic activities, particularly his efforts to mediate the Middle East conflict and his subsequent pressure on NATO allies.

Diplomacy in the Middle East: John Bickley begins by highlighting Trump’s pivotal role in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. He references Trump’s direct intervention to de-escalate potential military actions:

• Donald Trump (00:08): “I'd like to see everything calm down as quickly as possible.”
• Jorge Cabot (02:05): Describes a tense situation where, following initial missile launches by Iran and retaliatory strikes by Israel, Trump intervened to enforce the ceasefire. Trump’s firm communication with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his public appeals on social media were crucial in halting further escalation.

Notable Quotes:

• Donald Trump (03:09): “Israel. As soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs the likes of which I'd never seen before. The biggest load that we've seen. I'm not happy with Israel... I'm not happy with Iran either, but I'm really unhappy if Israel's going out this morning.”
• Donald Trump (03:50): “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don't know what they're doing.”

These statements reflect Trump’s dissatisfaction with both nations' actions, underscoring his commitment to maintaining the peace agreement.

NATO Summit in Europe: As Trump heads to Europe for a crucial NATO summit, the focus shifts to his agenda of increasing defense spending among NATO members. The president has long criticized allies for not meeting their financial commitments, advocating for a rise from the current 2% of GDP to 5%.

• Jorge Cabot (05:06): Outlines Trump’s objective to ensure NATO allies contribute more significantly to collective defense.
• Tim Rice (05:29): “Tomorrow we expect that all 32 NATO allies will agree to a new path. And that path, that commitment, is going to be 5% of their GDP on defense.”

Potential Tensions: The summit is anticipated to be the first major gathering of world leaders since Trump’s intervention in Iran, with some NATO members expressing criticism of his actions, potentially leading to heated discussions.

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II. Domestic Security Concerns and Immigration

Shifting focus to domestic issues, the podcast addresses heightened fears of terrorist attacks within the United States, exacerbated by recent immigration trends.

Terrorism Threats: Jorge Cabot discusses the ongoing threat posed by Iranian nationals residing illegally in the U.S., noting that:

• Over the past 48 hours, ICE has arrested at least 16 individuals, including a former Iranian military sniper and a suspected member of Hezbollah, highlighting the serious security concerns (04:22).

Immigration Statistics: He emphasizes the scale of illegal immigration under President Biden, citing that out of over 10 million entrants, at least 500 were on the terror watch list (04:25).

This segment underscores the administration’s stringent measures to curb potential threats, reflecting broader national security priorities.

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III. New York City Mayoral Race Overview

The New York City mayoral race garners significant attention, particularly due to the involvement of high-profile candidates and contentious political dynamics.

Primary Results and Key Players: Georgia Howe introduces the dramatic conclusion of the Democratic primary, where Zoran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, secured 44% of the vote, effectively defeating former Governor Andrew Cuomo.

• Tim Rice (07:28): Explains that Cuomo conceded defeat, although there’s speculation about a possible independent run in November.

Campaign Dynamics: Zoran Mamdani’s campaign focused on progressive policies, appealing to younger voters and addressing systemic issues within the city.

• Tim Rice (10:07): Details Mamdani’s platform, including free school lunches, free city buses, free childcare, rent freezes, sanctuary city status for queer and trans individuals, and the controversial proposal to establish city-run grocery stores aimed at lowering prices.

Notable Endorsements and Reactions:

• Cabot Phillips (07:28): Praises Mamdani’s impactful campaign.
• Tim Rice (08:28): Highlights opposition from candidates like New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who endorsed Mamdani and openly criticized Cuomo.

Candidate Backgrounds: Andrew Cuomo’s entry into the mayoral race is marked by past scandals, including allegations of sexual harassment and mishandling the COVID-19 pandemic, which have tainted his political reputation.

Public Sentiment: The episode underscores the desire among New Yorkers for substantial change and effective leadership, as reflected in the primary outcomes and the electorate’s receptiveness to progressive policies.

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IV. AMA’s Stance on Transgender Medical Procedures for Minors

A significant portion of the podcast is dedicated to the American Medical Association’s (AMA) position on transgender medical procedures for minors, sparking debate amidst recent legal and societal developments.

AMA’s Position Post-Supreme Court Ruling: Georgia Howe and Amanda Prestigiacomo discuss the AMA’s response to the Supreme Court decision in United States v. Scrametti, which permits states to ban puberty blockers and other gender-affirming treatments for minors.

• Dr. Bobby Mukomala (11:33): The AMA’s new president condemned the ruling, advocating for access to evidence-based medical care and shared decision-making between patients and physicians (11:33).

Historical Context: Amanda notes that this stance is consistent with the AMA’s long-standing support for trans procedures in minors, referencing past initiatives and endorsements:

• Jorge Cabot (12:31): Highlights that children often have a clear sense of their gender identity from a young age, reinforcing the necessity of supportive medical interventions.

Opposition and Emerging Movements: Despite the AMA’s unified position, dissent is growing within the medical community and beyond:

• Amanda Prestigiacomo (14:45): Mentions the formation of groups like "Do No Harm," which advocates against gender-affirming care for minors, emphasizing the need for evidence-based practices.

Political and Social Implications: The AMA’s stance has significant implications for healthcare policies and the broader societal debate on transgender rights, particularly as the Trump administration and certain hospitals have moved to restrict such procedures.

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Conclusion

The Morning Wire episode adeptly navigates complex and multifaceted topics, offering listeners a thorough analysis of Trump’s international diplomacy, the intense New York City mayoral race, and contentious medical debates surrounding transgender youth. By incorporating direct quotes and expert commentary, the hosts provide a nuanced perspective that informs and engages, making the content accessible and invaluable for those seeking to stay informed on these critical issues.

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For more detailed insights and updates, tune in to future episodes of Morning Wire.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

Trump pressures NATO allies to ante up after mediating the Middle east conflict.

[Donald Trump]

I'd like to see everything calm down as quickly as possible.

[Georgia Howe]

How much will NATO commit amid heightened global tensions?

[John Bickley]

I'm Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Wednesday, June 25th, and this is Morning Wire.

[Georgia Howe]

New York Democrats cast their primary ballots yesterday in the most watched mayoral race in the country.

[Cabot Phillips]

New York's Democratic contest for mayor is kind of turning into a national stress test of whether a hollowed out political center can still fend off the loudest and most menacing ideological fringes.

[John Bickley]

And America's largest medical group refuses to back down on trans procedures for kids, even after a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court.

[Georgia Howe]

Thanks for waking up with MORNING wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know.

[Cabot Phillips]

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[Georgia Howe]

President Trump headed to Europe yesterday for high stakes NATO meetings after he brokered the tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

[John Bickley]

Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips is here with Jorge Cabot. So we'll get to NATO in a second. But first, all eyes still on the Middle East. What's the latest?

[Jorge Cabot]

Yeah, a rollercoaster day, to say the least. Yesterday morning, hours after that cease fire deal went into effect, Iran reportedly launched a series of missiles at Israel, prompting the Israelis to respond with strikes of their own, targeting a radar facility north of Tehran. For a moment, it looked like the war was back on. But then Donald Trump intervened. With Israeli planes reportedly en route to Iran for more strikes. The president called Prime Minister Netanyahu directly with what the White House called a, quote, exceptionally firm and direct warning to abide by the ceasefire. He also made a public appeal on social media, writing, quote, israel, do not drop those bombs. If you do, it is a major violation. Bring your pilots home now. And that message and that phone call seemed to work, as Netanyahu said he would refrain from further strikes and abide by the deal. Moments later, Trump added another post saying, quote, israel is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home while doing a friendly plane wave to Iran. Nobody will be hurt. The ceasefire is in effect. But while further escalation was avoided, the President made clear that he was not happy with either country.

[Donald Trump]

Israel. As soon as we made the deal, they came out and they dropped a load of bombs the likes of which I'd never seen before. The biggest load that we've seen. I'm not happy with Israel. You know, when I say, okay, now you have 12 hours, you don't go out in the first hour and just drop everything you have on them. So I'm not happy with them. I'm not happy with Iran either, but I'm really unhappy if Israel's going out this morning.

[Jorge Cabot]

And while he took aim at both sides there, it's certainly noteworthy that he publicly slammed Israel. We've not seen much of that from the administration to date. Gives an idea of just how badly Trump wants this peace deal to hold up. Later on, he added this blunt assessment of the situation that quickly went viral. You'll see why.

[Donald Trump]

We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don't know what the they're doing.

[Jorge Cabot]

But then, hours later, Trump struck a more optimistic tone, saying both sides wanted peace and he was happy to facilitate it. Here he is talking about the future for Iran. If they abide by the ceasefire, they're.

[Donald Trump]

Not going to have enrichment and they're not going to have a nuclear weapon. They know that they're going to get on to being a great trading nation.

[John Bickley]

Now, while there does appear to be real progress in the Middle east, here at home there's a lot of fear of terror attacks. What is the latest on that front?

[Jorge Cabot]

Yeah, the Iranian government appears to be playing ball, but authorities around the country are on high alert for a terror attack here at home. Remember, of the 10 million plus people who crossed the border illegally under President Biden, authorities say at least 500 were on the terror watch list. And those are just the ones we know about. With that in mind, over the last 48 hours, ICE agents have cracked down on Iranian nationals living here illegally. Specifically, they've arrested at least 16 folks, including a former sniper in the Iranian military, a man on the, quote, known or suspected terrorist list, a former Iranian soldier with admitted connections to Hezbollah, and a man carrying a loaded handgun at the time of his arrest.

[John Bickley]

Now, as we said at the top, this comes as Trump is traveled to Europe for this big NATO summit. What is the agenda there?

[Jorge Cabot]

Well, the president's main goal is to push NATO members to up their defense spending. Trump has long lamented that America is being taken advantage of by our allies. We're who benefit from our military without, he says, paying their fair share. At the moment, NATO members are expected to spend at least 2% of their GDPs on defense. Trump wants that number at 5%. Here's U.S. ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker on Tuesday.

[Cabot Phillips]

Tomorrow we expect that all 32 NATO allies will agree to a new path. And that path, that commitment, is going.

[Tim Rice]

To be 5% of their GDP on defense.

[Cabot Phillips]

For too long, Europe has been taking advantage of the American taxpayer to provide.

[Jorge Cabot]

Their traditional now this will be the first gathering of world leaders since President Trump intervened in Iran. A number of NATO members who arrived at the summit early have slammed him for that intervention. So there could be some fireworks at the Hague over the next few days.

[John Bickley]

I will not be surprised if that proves true. Kevin, thanks so much for reporting.

[Jorge Cabot]

Absolutely.

[Cabot Phillips]

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[Georgia Howe]

Helixsleep.com wire New Yorkers went to the polls yesterday to decide the Democrat candidate for mayor, bringing an end to a wild primary season here with the state.

[John Bickley]

Of the races Daily Wire Deputy Managing Editor Tim Rice. Tim? So a lot of national attention on this race in part because of Cuomo, but even more so because of his key opponent, a Democratic socialist. Then there's also the messy process. So where should we begin?

[Tim Rice]

Well, John, first things first. It actually wasn't that messy of a process. It took two weeks for this primary to be decided in 2021. But last night, Zoran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist you mentioned earlier, easily locked up 44% of the vote. Cuomo called Mamdani shortly after 10p to congratulate him and essentially conceded. I say essentially because we still have to wait for the Board of Elections to declare an official winner and because Cuomo has hinted that he may still run as an independent in November. But either way, the scandal plagued former governor essentially threw in the towel Tuesday night.

[Cabot Phillips]

Tonight was not our night. Tonight was Assemblyman Mondani's night. And he put together a great campaign and he touched young people and inspired them and moved them and got them to come out and vote. And he really ran a highly impactful campaign.

[Tim Rice]

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who received the New York Times endorsement, came in third. He was reportedly very happy that Cuomo lost, leading a goodbye Cuomo chant at his election night party. That's not entirely surprising, considering Lander and Mamdani made waves a few weeks ago when they endorsed each other, urging voters not to rank Cuomo.

[Cabot Phillips]

We both love New York City, and.

[Tim Rice]

That'S why it's so important to not send scandal ridden, corrupt Andrew Cuomo to City Hall.

[Cabot Phillips]

New Yorkers deserve so much better than a disgraced creep.

[Tim Rice]

Agreed.

[Cabot Phillips]

Early voting starts tomorrow, and we both.

[Amanda Prestigiacomo]

Know what we need to do to.

[Cabot Phillips]

Save our city from Andrew Cuomo.

[Tim Rice]

You want to tell him you go first.

[Donald Trump]

You go first.

[Tim Rice]

Let's do it together. We're cross endorsing. Cuomo, of course, resigned as governor in 2021amid allegations that he had sexually harassed female staffers and and amid the fallout from his botched handling of the COVID pandemic. Cuomo entered the mayoral race in May, declaring that he was running both as a Democrat and under a third party of his own creation, the Fight and Deliver Party. That didn't sit well with incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, who's also running on two party lines. Things got a little heated when Adams accused Cuomo of stealing his campaign strategy. But the mayor's taken a different tack these past few days, putting politics aside and urging New Yorkers to stay cool.

[Cabot Phillips]

Hey, New York is hot outside. We must do everything to stay cool. Take a nice cool drink.

[Donald Trump]

My favorite one, a few cubes of.

[Cabot Phillips]

Ice and turn on that tap and.

[Donald Trump]

You get to New York City. Tap water.

[Cabot Phillips]

Nice sip of cool water.

[John Bickley]

Now, we've been hearing a lot about Mamdani, and it seems like he's going to have a political future whether or not he ends up in Gracie Mansion. Talk to us about him.

[Tim Rice]

Well, imagine if AOC didn't have any presidential ambitions. Mamdani wants free school lunches, free city buses, and free childcare. He wants to freeze rent and make New York a sanctuary city for, quote, queer and trans people. He's pledged to devote $65 million to transgender procedures for both kids and adults. And perhaps most shockingly, he wants to open city run grocery stores. As mayor, I will create a network of city owned grocery stores. It's like a public option for produce. We will redirect city funds from corporate supermarkets to city owned grocery stores whose mission is lower prices, not price gouging. Critics say this type of policy will hurt private businesses and eventually lead to shortages of the things Mamdani wants to make more affordable. But it seems like this message resonated with a lot of New Yorkers. Now the question is, how much will it resonate between now and November?

[John Bickley]

Right. An election day. We'll be here before we know it. Tim, thanks so much for reporting.

[Tim Rice]

You bet.

[John Bickley]

The nation's largest medical association is standing by its controversial guidance to promote transgender medical procedures for minors. That's despite mounting evidence against it and a landmark Supreme Court ruling.

[Georgia Howe]

Here with the details is Daily Wire reporter Amanda Prestigiacomo. So, Amanda, the American Medical association has a new president and he recently made a statement indicating the organization's stance on transgender procedures for minors. So what exactly are they saying these days?

[Amanda Prestigiacomo]

Yeah, so the group's new president released a statement signaling against the recent ruling in United States versus Scrametti. As we covered here, that decision basically allows states to ban things, puberty blockers and other so called gender affirming procedures on minors. Those procedures have been shown to be damaging and often irreversible. The new President of the AMA, Dr. Bobby Mukomala, condemned the Supreme Court decision and said that all patients deserve access to high quality evidence based medical care. And he added that decisions about medical treatments must be made through a shared decision making process between the patient and their physician.

[Georgia Howe]

Okay, so the AMA has new leadership. Is this a departure from their previous guidance?

[Amanda Prestigiacomo]

No, this is just a continuation of where they've been in the past. The AMA has long supported trans procedures for minors. Here's a conversation hosted by the AMA about a year and a half ago on what doctors should know about so called trans teens.

[Jorge Cabot]

What we know about gender identity formation for all human beings, regardless of whether you identify as LGBTQ or not, is that young people really do know their gender by about age 4. It's the that young, you know, female assigned at birth who says, mom, I am a boy, or mom, I'm like my brother, you know, I'm a boy too. And they keep saying that over and over and over again.

[Cabot Phillips]

Those are the folks that likely, but.

[Jorge Cabot]

Not always will go on to really have a very firm gender diverse identity.

[Amanda Prestigiacomo]

In 2023, the AMA passed a resolution to commit to working with legislators to oppose policies that curb access to these treatments or prioritize parental rights. The resolution also promised to collaborate with other organizations to, quote, educate the Federation of State Medical Boards about the importance of gender affirming care. The AMA also enthusiastically supported Dr. Rachel Levine's nomination as assistant secretary for HHS during the Biden era. Now, Levine, who's a man who identifies as a woman, is a proponent of all types of trans drugs and procedures for minors. Here's Levine talking about children going through the wrong puberty.

[Jorge Cabot]

The adolescence is hard and puberty is hard.

[Amanda Prestigiacomo]

What if you're going through the wrong puberty?

[Jorge Cabot]

What if you inside feel that you are female, but now you're going through a male puberty?

[Amanda Prestigiacomo]

As John mentioned, the AMA is the largest medical association in the United States and it has significant influence in shaping policy and common medical practices.

[Georgia Howe]

So it sounds like the AMA is digging in on this issue. That's despite divergent opinions coming out across the pond and some of the more long term studies. Are there any other medical groups that are changing their stance on this?

[Amanda Prestigiacomo]

Well, the medical establishment in the US all the biggest medical organizations, they're standing behind this position to support trans procedures for minors. This would include the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Endocrine Society, the American Psychiatric association, and the World Professional association for Transgender Health.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, are there any groups that are actively opposing these treatments?

[Amanda Prestigiacomo]

Well, we are starting to see individual medical professionals speak out about this. And now we're seeing organizations forming and they're calling for evidence based medicine. One group called do no harm has 16,000 members. And one of their stated goals is to curtail the unscientific and individually harmful practice of so called gender affirming care. And you know, of course, the Trump administration is firmly opposed to these procedures. Trump ran on that and went in a landslide. During his second week in office, Trump signed an order saying that the US Will not fund, sponsor, promote, assist or support gender transitions for children. Since Trump took office, a number of hospitals have announced that they're either curtailing or fully stopping trans procedures on minors.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, a huge disconnect forming between these professional organizations and regular people on this issue. Amanda, thanks for reporting.

[Amanda Prestigiacomo]

You're welcome.

[John Bickley]

Thanks for waking up with us. And if you're watching on YouTube, don't forget to like and subscribe. We'll be back this evening with more news you need to know.