Morning Wire Podcast Summary: Trump-Putin Phone Call & DOGE Hearing (Episode 2.13.25)
In the February 13, 2025 episode of Morning Wire, hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe delve into pivotal political events shaping the current landscape. The episode covers a significant phone call between former President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at ending the prolonged war in Ukraine, the inaugural hearing of the House Subcommittee on Delivering Government Efficiency (DOGE), the triumphant return of Mark Fogel, an American wrongfully detained in Russia, and key confirmations within Trump's Cabinet. Below is a detailed summary of the episode's key discussions, complete with notable quotes and timestamps.
Trump-Putin Phone Call: A Step Towards Ending the Ukraine War
Georgia Howe kicks off the episode by announcing a groundbreaking development:
"Trump and Putin agree to begin negotiations to end the nearly three-year war in Ukraine."
[00:03]
John Bickley emphasizes the urgency of the situation:
"We want to end that war. That war is a disaster."
[00:09]
Tim Rice, Daily Wire Deputy Managing Editor, elaborates on the details of the phone call:
"Trump shared that he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time since returning to the White House. According to Trump, their call was lengthy and highly productive... Trump said Putin agreed with him that the war with Ukraine needed to end and that the US and Russia will immediately begin negotiations to end the war."
[02:21]
White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt reassures the public:
"They were very positive, and the administration is wholeheartedly committed to a peace deal to end once and for all the Russia, Ukraine, war."
[03:06]
John Bickley discusses the conditions set by Trump for U.S. aid:
"We're getting security on our money. We're going to have it secured by raw earth, and they have oil and gas and they have a lot of other things, and we're asking for security in our money. Ukraine has agreed to it now."
[03:53]
Tim Rice highlights Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's response:
"He said that his conversation with Trump was meaningful and that they discussed opportunities to achieve peace and ways that Ukraine and the United States could work together in mutually beneficial ways."
[04:08]
The episode underscores the potential shift towards negotiation over total military victory, noting Zelenskyy's openness to a land swap deal to facilitate peace.
DOGE Hearing: Battling Government Waste Amidst Partisan Tensions
The focus shifts to the DOGE Committee's first hearing in Washington:
Cabot Phillips introduces the segment:
"Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips is here with the highlights from the fiery hearing."
[05:03]
Marjorie Taylor Greene, Chair of the DOGE Committee, makes a strong opening statement:
"I believe enslaving our nation in debt is one of the biggest betrayals against the American its own elected government. The American people's anger over this betrayal is what gave birth to the concept of doge, the Department of Government Efficiency."
[05:44]
The hearing aimed to uncover government fraud and inefficiency, with testimonies such as:
Heywood Talkov, CEO of LexisNexis, on potential savings:
"You can save $1 trillion a year."
[06:17]
However, the hearing quickly became a battleground over Elon Musk, drawing sharp criticism from Democrats:
Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett expresses distrust:
"I'm upset about the guy that runs Twitter who for sure is doing nefarious things because I don't understand if you are trying to conduct audits and figure out where the waste, fraud and abuse is. I don't know why you would go to some tech guy."
[06:54]
Rep. Robert Garcia escalates the tension with graphic presentations:
"In the last Congress, Chairwoman Greene literally showed a pic in our oversight Congressional hearing, so I thought I'd bring one as well. Now this, of course we know is President Elon Musk. He's also the world's richest man."
[07:10]
In response, Republicans defend Musk's role and point to other unelected officials accused by Democrats:
"Where were they whenever Fauci was forcing vaccine and mask mandates... Alejandro Mayorkas was facilitating the invasion of our country by illegal aliens?"
[07:39]
[07:10]
Kevin summarizes the situation:
"All right, so clearly going scorched earth here."
[09:13]
Tim Rice concurs, noting the aggressive approach:
"Yeah."
[09:15]
The episode highlights the intensified political maneuvering within the DOGE Committee, reflecting broader partisan divides.
Welcome Home Mark Fogel: A Humanitarian Victory
The episode takes an emotional turn with the return of Mark Fogel, a wrongfully detained American teacher in Russia:
Cabot Phillips introduces the story:
"Mark Fogle exited the plane with an American flag draped around his shoulders and literally kissed the ground after setting foot on US soil."
[09:58]
Cassie Akiva, Daily Wire reporter, provides background:
"Mark is a 63-year-old teacher who was living in Moscow teaching diplomats' children at the Anglo American School when he was arrested for possession of marijuana... sentenced to 14 years in the Rubinsk Penal Colony."
[10:33]
John Bickley shares Fogel's heartfelt gratitude:
"I want you to know that I am not a hero in this at all. President Trump is a hero... I love one person who could be president has. And that's a lot further than you've gotten in three years right now."
[13:02]
The story underscores the Trump administration's commitment to repatriating wrongfully detained Americans, drawing parallels to the Brittney Griner case.
Confirmation of Trump’s Cabinet Picks
The podcast also covers significant confirmations within Trump's Cabinet:
Kevin announces Tulsi Gabbard's confirmation:
"Trump's pick for Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, was officially confirmed by the Senate in a 5,248 vote."
[09:21]
With Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. anticipated to follow suit later in the day, the episode highlights the GOP's unified support for Trump's appointments:
"He's expected to win confirmation as well."
[09:50]
This segment emphasizes the consolidation of Trump's influence within the federal government.
Additional Developments: Legal Actions on Immigration Enforcement
In a brief update, Attorney General Pam Bondi announces a lawsuit against New York State officials for obstructing federal immigration enforcement:
"She's suing New York State and several of its key officials for thwarting federal immigration enforcement."
[14:15]
This move signifies ongoing tensions between federal and state authorities over immigration policies.
Conclusion
The Morning Wire episode provides a comprehensive overview of significant political events, from high-stakes international negotiations to intense domestic governmental reforms. John Bickley and Georgia Howe deliver insightful analysis, enriched with notable quotes and precise timestamps, ensuring that listeners are well-informed about the latest developments in politics, culture, education, and more. Whether discussing the potential end of the Ukraine war, the contentious DOGE hearing, the heartfelt return of an American detainee, or crucial Cabinet confirmations, this episode encapsulates the dynamic and often tumultuous nature of current affairs.