Trump - Putin Faceoff & NPR Sues Trump | 5.28.25

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary Episode: Trump - Putin Faceoff & NPR Sues Trump
Release Date: May 28, 2025
Hosts: John Bickley and Georgia Howe
Co-Hosts/Guests: Cabot Phillips, Megan Basham, Amanda Presage Giacomo

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1. Escalating Tensions Between Trump and Putin [02:01 - 05:43]

Overview:
The episode delves into the intensifying confrontation between former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Host John Bickley introduces the segment, highlighting the precarious situation as the U.S. reinforces Europe's northern front in response to Russia's continued assault on Ukraine.

Key Discussions:

• Public Exchanges:

  • Trump's Accusations: President Trump publicly criticized Putin, labeling him "crazy" following Russia's unprecedented aerial attacks on Ukraine.
    • Trump's Quote [02:18]: "Vladimir Putin doesn't realize is that if it weren't for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia. And I mean really bad. He is playing with fire."
  • Putin's Retaliation: In response, the Kremlin issued a sarcastic statement thanking the U.S. for their "commitment to finding peace" while accusing Trump of "emotional overload," further aggravating the situation.

• Potential Sanctions:

  • Cabot Phillips' Insights:
    • Phillips [03:52]: "President Zelensky has cheered on that idea, saying it would serve as a guaranteed means of forcing Russia to not only to cease fire, but also to show respect."
    • Discussion on proposed sanctions includes a staggering 500% import tariff on nations continuing to purchase Russian oil, petroleum, and natural gas.
    • Effectiveness of Sanctions:
      • Rebecca Koffler, a former defense intelligence analyst, argues that sanctions are ineffective as Russia's economy remains "sanction-proof," bolstered by a robust sovereign wealth fund and de-dollarization efforts.
        • Koffler [04:29]: "The sanctions were never intended to work. It just makes people feel better."

• Military Capabilities:

  • Phillips [05:11]: "To this day, Russia produces in three months more military hardware than the entire NATO alliance produces in one year."
  • Highlighting Russia’s sustained military production since transitioning to a wartime economy in 2015, indicating Putin's long-term commitment to the conflict.

Conclusion:
The segment underscores the escalating rhetoric between Trump and Putin, the controversial efficacy of imposing new sanctions on Russia, and the broader implications for international relations and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

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2. The Harvard Showdown and NPR's Legal Battle Against the Trump Administration [06:17 - 10:21]

Overview:
The podcast transitions to domestic issues, focusing on President Trump's conflict with Harvard University and the National Public Radio (NPR). Culture reporter Megan Basham provides an in-depth analysis of these confrontations.

Key Discussions:

• Harvard vs. Trump Administration:

  • Funding Blockade:
    • President Trump announced the cancellation of all remaining government contracts with Harvard, a move seen as punitive.
    • Harvard, in retaliation, joined NPR in filing a lawsuit to retain its public funding.
  • Impact on Students:
    • Megan Basham [06:37]: "The policy would impact over 7,000 foreign visa holders, or about 30% of Harvard's entire student body."
    • Harvard accuses the administration of demanding "race blind admissions, NDEI programs, and screening international students for alleged ties to either terrorism or anti-Semitism."
  • Legal Proceedings:
    • A federal judge issued a restraining order preventing the Trump administration from pulling funding for Harvard's international students.
    • Harvard's lawsuit claims the defunding is unconstitutional and retaliatory, arguing it violates the First Amendment and due process.

• NPR's Lawsuit:

  • Executive Order:
    • President Trump issued an executive order on May 1 to cut off all federal funding to NPR and PBS, totaling approximately $500 million annually.
  • Legal Arguments:
    • NPR CEO Katherine Maher labels the action as "retaliatory viewpoint based discrimination," alleging it's punishment for NPR's coverage.
    • The administration contends that taxpayer money should not support politically biased news outlets.
  • Legal Prognosis:
    • Megan Basham [09:42]: "If the courts decide that the defunding is a legitimate exercise of executive lending discretion over federal spending, then they win."
    • The success of these lawsuits may hinge on whether the administration can justify the defunding under national security or fiscal policy grounds, especially in conservative-leaning appellate courts.

• Financial Stability of Harvard:

  • Despite federal funding threats, Harvard's substantial endowment ($4 billion) positions it to withstand financial blows, diminishing the immediate impact of the administration's actions.

Conclusion:
This segment highlights the Trump administration's aggressive stance against prestigious institutions like Harvard and media organizations like NPR, raising significant concerns about academic freedom, press independence, and the broader implications for government overreach.

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3. GOP Internal Conflicts Over Pesticide Regulations [10:21 - 14:23]

Overview:
The final major topic addresses the internal divisions within the Republican Party concerning pesticide regulations. Reporter Amanda Presage Giacomo examines the contrasting viewpoints and the implications for agriculture and public health.

Key Discussions:

• Division Within the GOP:

  • Pro-Pesticide Stance:
    • Some Republicans advocate for minimal regulation, citing concerns for farmers who rely heavily on pesticides like glyphosate.
    • Emphasis on avoiding "nanny state" measures that could disrupt agricultural productivity and supply chains.
      • Amanda Giacomo [11:15]: "Pesticides are deeply ingrained into the US Agriculture system and it would be a disaster to phase them out tomorrow."
  • Anti-Pesticide Advocacy:
    • A faction within the GOP, including the MAHA coalition, pushes for banning pesticides that other countries have already prohibited due to health risks.
    • Focus on holding manufacturers accountable for the alleged harms caused, including cancers and other diseases.

• Federal Level Dynamics:

  • HHS Position:
    • HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continues to vocalize concerns about pesticides poisoning American children.
    • Despite the secretary's stance, HHS is cautious about implementing sweeping regulatory measures, preferring to involve the private sector in addressing the issue.
      • Callie Means [11:48]: "The department has no desire for nanny state regulatory measures on these chemicals."

• State-Level Legislation:

  • Bayer's Legal Shield:
    • Bayer, a major pesticide manufacturer, faces numerous lawsuits alleging health hazards from products like Roundup.
    • States such as North Dakota and Georgia have passed laws granting Bayer immunity from these lawsuits, while other states like Iowa, Idaho, Florida, Oklahoma, and Tennessee are considering similar measures.
      • Missouri Senator Nick Schroyer [12:47]: "It's atrocious to believe that any company... should get any form of blanket immunity for the products that they're putting in the stream of commerce."
  • Farmers' Perspectives:
    • A divide exists among farmers: some prioritize the ability to sue manufacturers to protect their families, while others fear that granting immunity would eliminate effective weed control solutions.
      • Farmer's View [13:00]: "If I get cancer, my family gets cancer from this product. You're damn right I want to have the ability to sue this company."

Conclusion:
The GOP faces a significant rift over pesticide regulations, balancing the interests of agricultural stakeholders against public health concerns. The outcome of this internal conflict will have profound implications for farmers, manufacturers, and the health of American communities.

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Final Remarks

John Bickley and Georgia Howe wrap up the episode by emphasizing the critical nature of these discussions, urging listeners to stay informed and engaged with the latest developments in politics, culture, and more. The episode provides a comprehensive analysis of both international tensions and domestic policy battles, reflecting the multifaceted challenges facing the United States in May 2025.

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Notable Quotes:

• Trump [02:18]: "Vladimir Putin doesn't realize is that if it weren't for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia. And I mean really bad. He is playing with fire."
• Megan Basham [06:37]: "The policy would impact over 7,000 foreign visa holders, or about 30% of Harvard's entire student body."
• Amanda Giacomo [11:15]: "Pesticides are deeply ingrained into the US Agriculture system and it would be a disaster to phase them out tomorrow."

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This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented in the Morning Wire episode titled "Trump - Putin Faceoff & NPR Sues Trump," providing a thorough overview for both regular listeners and newcomers alike.

Transcript

[Unnamed Speaker]

Foreign.

[John Bickley]

The US Reinforces Europe's northern front as Russia ramps up its assault on Ukraine.

[Unnamed Speaker]

Right now there is zero leverage, strategic leverage, that the United States has over Russia. It's because we have been sleeping at the wheel.

[John Bickley]

I'm Daily Wire Executive editor John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Wednesday, May 28, and this is Morning Wire.

[Unnamed Speaker]

NPR joins Harvard in suing the Trump administration in an attempt to cling to their taxpayer funding.

[John Bickley]

Shutting off that work does not help the country even as it punishes Harvard. And it is hard to see the link between that and, say, antisemitism. And everyone wants to regulate pesticides. So why is the issue causing a rift within the gop?

[Unnamed Speaker]

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

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The war of words between Donald Trump and Moscow escalated Tuesday as the president considers major sanctions against Russia.

[John Bickley]

Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips has more on the growing tensions. Hey, Cabot. So major escalation, pretty precarious situation with the US And Russia right now. Catch us up to speed.

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah. As we discussed yesterday over the weekend, President Trump took very public shots at Vladimir Putin, calling him crazy after he launched that unprecedented aerial barrage on Ukraine. The Kremlin responded by issuing a sort of sarcastic statement thanking the United States for their commitment to finding peace and accusing Trump of, quote, emotional overload. That clearly angered Trump, who on Tuesday issued a new statement of his own on social media, this time with a clear threat, Quote, what Vladimir Putin doesn't realize is that if it weren't for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia. And I mean really bad. He is playing with fire.

[John Bickley]

And now the President is considering further sanctions in response. Tell us more on that front.

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah. A number of reports from the White House suggest those new sanctions against Moscow could come as early as this week. Multiple times over the last few months, Russia has launched new strikes on Ukraine that prompted Trump to issue new threats of sanctions. And then Putin has in turn responded with promises to come to negotiating table. But each time after those promises, he's really just stalled on negotiating and continued his invasion. Trump is reportedly concerned that those sanctions could drive Putin even further from the negotiating table and prolong the war. But the reality is, barring increased military support for Ukraine, Trump doesn't have many other options for exerting pressure. GOP Senator Chuck Grassley, for example, said on social media, quote, I believe President Trump was sincere when he thought his friendship with Putin would end the war. Now, that being the case, it's time for sanctions. Strong enough. So Putin knows game over.

[John Bickley]

So what would sanctions look like exactly?

[Cabot Phillips]

Well, first, Congress has made clear to the White House that they are ready to roll. If he gives them the green light, they'd be able to pass new measures, they said, with overwhelming bipartisan support. One idea is to slap a 500% import tariff on any country who continues to purchase Russian oil, petroleum and natural gas. President Zelensky has cheered on that idea, saying it would, quote, serve as a guaranteed means of forcing Russia to not only to cease fire, but also to show respect. But look, there are skeptics who question whether sanctions will actually work. To that point, we spoke with Rebecca Koffler, former defense intelligence analyst and author of the book Putin's Playbook.

[Unnamed Speaker]

The sanctions were never intended to work. It just makes people feel better. Like I said, the economy has been sanction proof. The companies were mandated to produce indigenously everything that Russia needs. Second thing that he did, he beefed up his sovereign wealth fund to an all time high $650 billion. And the next thing is, he de dollarized Russia's foreign exchange reserves. And this is why the Russian economy is relatively stable.

[Cabot Phillips]

Koffler went on to explain why Putin feels he has the leverage in this showdown with Ukraine and the west more broadly.

[Unnamed Speaker]

To this day, Russia produces in three months more military hardware than the entire NATO alliance produces in one year. Think about that. It's Because Putin transitioned his military and economy on a wartime footing a decade ago in 2015.

[Cabot Phillips]

So after a spring that saw optimism regarding peace talks, Putin is giving new signs that he's in this war for the long haul.

[John Bickley]

Things rapidly escalating over the last few days. We'll see where this leads. Cabot, thanks so much for reporting.

[Cabot Phillips]

Absolutely.

[Unnamed Speaker]

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[John Bickley]

The administration's showdown with Harvard has escalated even further. President Trump announced he's canceling all remaining government contracts with the elite school. In the meantime, Harvard joins NPR in suing to retain its public funding.

[Unnamed Speaker]

Daily Wire Culture reporter Megan Basham joins us now with the latest. So, Megan, let's start with Harvard. What's happening there?

[Megan Basham]

Okay, so last Friday, a federal judge in Boston issued a restraining order blocking the Trump administration from pulling funding for Harvard's international students. Now, the policy would impact over 7,000 foreign visa holders, or about 30% of Harvard's entire student body. And the university argues it's a direct response to its refusal to comply with administration demands to have race blind admissions NDEI programs and screen international students for alleged ties to either terrorism or anti Semitism. Harvard President Alan Garber reacted to the move.

[John Bickley]

It is a warning. They see this as a message that if you don't comply with what we're demanding, these will be the consequences.

[Megan Basham]

Now, this came after Harvard filed a lawsuit that same day calling the ban on its funding unconstitutional and retaliatory. So this conflict began escalating in April when The administration froze 2.2 billion in federal research grants to Harvard. And then on April 21, Harvard filed its first lawsuit accusing the administration of violating the First Amendment and due process clause. And then this week, on May 27, the administration upped the ante again, directing federal agencies to terminate 100 million in remaining contracts with Harvard. The reason? Its failure to address antisemitism and promote national interests. Now, Harvard's president, Alan Garber told NPR that these actions threaten not just the university, but critical research. This is what Trump said on Sunday.

[Unnamed Speaker]

Part of the problem with Harvard is that there are about 31%, almost 31% of foreigners coming to Harvard. We give them billions of dollars, which is ridiculous.

[John Bickley]

We want to know who the people.

[Unnamed Speaker]

Now, a lot of the foreign students, we wouldn't have a problem with. I'm not going to have a problem with foreign students, but it shouldn't be 31%. It's too much because we have Americans who want to go there and to other places, and they can't go there. No foreign government contributes money to Harvard.

[Megan Basham]

We do Now. Trump says he's considering taking this funding and directing it to American trade schools, schools to develop our own workforce instead.

[Unnamed Speaker]

Now, this is playing out very much in parallel with the administration showdown with npr. Recently, Trump moved to block their taxpayer funding as well, and now they're suing to retain those funds. Can you give us the latest on that front?

[Megan Basham]

Yeah. So npr, along with three Colorado public radio stations, filed a lawsuit yesterday in federal court in Washington, D.C. and they're also challenging President Trump's May 1 executive order to cut off all federal funding to NPR and PBS. And that totals about 500 million annually. So this lawsuit argues that the order violates First Amendment's protections of free speech and of the press. NPR CEO Katherine Maher called it retaliatory viewpoint based discrimination, and she's accusing the administration of punishing NPR for its coverage. But the White House argues that taxpayer money should not flow to politically biased news outlets.

[Unnamed Speaker]

Now, do we have any sense of how likely these suits are to succeed?

[Megan Basham]

Well, you know, on Harvard and the foreign students, it looks like it's going to depend on whether the administration can reframe these issues as disputes about national security or fiscal policy. If they manage that and they can get into a conservative leaning appellate court, then they have a decent chance for npr. If the courts decide that the defunding is a legitimate exercise of executive lending discretion over federal spending, then they win.

[Unnamed Speaker]

Well, and just something to keep in mind, Harvard has the largest endowment, I think, of any university in the world, so they're not exactly hurting for cash.

[Megan Basham]

Four billion.

[Unnamed Speaker]

Yeah.

Megan, thanks for reporting.

[Megan Basham]

My pleasure.

[Unnamed Speaker]

At both the federal and state level, there's a looming battle within the GOP over potential regulations on pesticides.

[John Bickley]

Here to discuss is Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presage Giacomo. Hey, Amanda. First, why don't you set the stage for us here? Why are pesticides causing a rift in the gop?

[Amanda Presage Giacomo]

Hey, John. Yeah. Some in the Republican Party say that they're worried about farmers in their districts who rely on pesticides like glyphosate, which has caught the eye of hhs. And there have been Reports that there are concerns from within the White House that abrupt regulatory action on these chemicals could trigger supply chain issues. Now, on the other side of this, you have some Republicans and this MAHA coalition of activists who want to see pesticides that have been banned in other countries to be banned here as well. Or at the least, there are some GOP representatives who are currently fighting off efforts in their states to shield pesticide manufacturers from lawsuits over apparent harms they cause, including even cancer.

[John Bickley]

Let's look at the federal level first. What's HHS saying about this?

[Amanda Presage Giacomo]

Well, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Has spoken out about pesticides for years now. He said that they're poisoning American children. He's not backing down from that. But his department, hhs, is really toeing the line between these two camps in the gop. Top Kennedy advisor Callie Means, for example, earlier this month, he said that while HHS will state the truth about pesticides, he said the department has no desire for nanny state regulatory measures on these chemicals. Here's Means at an Axios event.

[Cabot Phillips]

It is a fact that we ingest 25% of the world's pesticide in the United States. And many of our leading pesticides have been had. Other countries across the world have chosen to phase them out or ban them, calling them carcinogenic and disruptive to kits. The policy solutions from this are not obvious. Pesticides are deeply ingrained into the US Agriculture system and it would be a disaster to phase them out tomorrow. Nobody's suggesting that.

[Amanda Presage Giacomo]

Means added that HHS would love to help harness the private sector to help combat this issue.

[John Bickley]

So real hesitance about any sweeping measures there. What about the state level? What are we seeing there?

[Amanda Presage Giacomo]

So the big fight here is over pesticide manufacturer Bayer. That's a German based company that acquired Monsanto in 2018. There's legislation in more than a dozen states right now to shield Bayer from forthcoming legal action over its failure to warn about potential harms associated with its products, specifically Roundup, which contains glyphosate. I spoke to Missouri Republican lawmaker Nick Schroyer, who's fighting efforts to shield Bayer in his state.

[Unnamed Speaker]

I think it's atrocious to believe that any company, any company in America or anywhere should get any form of blanket immunity for the products that they're putting in the stream of commerce. I think the seventh Amendment guarantees our access to the courts.

[Amanda Presage Giacomo]

And Schroyer told me that there are almost 200,000 lawsuits that have been filed nationwide over Roundup, allegedly causing different diseases, cancers and even deaths in his state, Republicans are split on passing a bill to shield Bayer. Schroyer told me that that divide has a lot to do with lobbying efforts.

[Unnamed Speaker]

Groups associated with Bayer, associated with the Life Estate manufacturers, they targeted nine different senators, and we've seen some of the state reps actually bend the knee and vote yes even though they had concerns over the bill.

[Amanda Presage Giacomo]

However, he also explained that worries about farmers are a real concern for some representatives.

[Unnamed Speaker]

Even with the farmers, some of them are split on whether this is a good bill or not. Some of them say, look, if I get cancer, my family gets cancer from this product. You're damn right I want to have the ability to sue this company. Whereas other farmers are saying, look, if we don't grant, grant them immunity, this product's going to go belly up and we're not going to have any form of weed killer herbicide that is going to tackle these issues in our fields.

[Amanda Presage Giacomo]

So far, GOP led states like North Dakota and Georgia have passed laws to shield Bear. Other states like Iowa, Idaho, Florida, Oklahoma and Tennessee have similar legislation pending.

[John Bickley]

All right, so several states getting involved in that fight. We'll see if the MAHA team pushes any further action forward on this federally. Amanda, thanks so much for reporting.

[Amanda Presage Giacomo]

You're welcome.

[Unnamed Speaker]

Before you go, we're on YouTube now. Watch and subscribe to the video version on our morning Wire channel. Thanks for waking up with us. We'll be back tomorrow with the news. You need to know.