Trump Secures Border & Pritzker 2028? | 4.29.25

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary: "Trump Secures Border & Pritzker 2028?" | April 29, 2025

Hosted by John Bickley and Georgia Howe of The Daily Wire, the "Morning Wire" podcast episode released on April 29, 2025, delves into the Trump administration's claims of border security success, the internal strife within the Democratic Party spearheaded by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, and the legal challenges facing President Trump. This comprehensive summary captures the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented throughout the episode.

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1. Trump Administration's Border Security Achievements

100 Days of Secured Borders

Georgia Howe opens the episode by highlighting President Donald Trump's declaration that the border is now the "most secure in the history of this nation" after 100 days in office.

• Tom Homan's Assertion:
  • [00:08] Tom Homan, Border Czar, states, “We are the most secure border in the history of this nation.”
  • [01:10] Homan further emphasizes the administration's success: “Unprecedented success under the first hundred days was actually January 20th to April 1st.”

Arrest Statistics and Crime Focus

Mary Margaret Olihan, the White House correspondent, reports on over 100 arrests in the first 100 days, focusing on severe crimes committed by illegal immigrants.

• Tom Homan Highlights Crime Rates:
  • [02:56] “The amount of child rapists we've arrested under this administration that could have been arrested under the Biden administration. They were out there, but they didn't go look for them.”

High Incidence of Crimes Against Children

The administration emphasizes a troubling number of sexual assaults on children by illegal immigrants, which Homan attributes to previous administration's lax policies.

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2. Democratic Party's Internal Conflict

Governor J.B. Pritzker's Aggressive Stance

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker delivers a fiery speech targeting President Trump, signaling a shift towards more confrontational tactics within the Democratic Party.

• Pritzker's Call to Action:
  • [06:40] “Never before in my life have I called for mass protests, for mobilization.”

Division Among Democrats

The episode explores the split between Democrats advocating for a combative approach against Trump and those pushing for unity.

• Cabot Phillips on Democratic Strategy:
  • [06:17] “Polling shows the majority of the party's voters now want the Fight Trump approach, and lawmakers on the left seem to be listening.”

Republican Confidence Amid Democratic Disarray

Republican lawmakers remain confident despite Democratic internal conflicts, predicting failure of aggressive Democratic strategies in future elections.

• Congresswoman Lisa McClain's Perspective:
  • [07:56] “Democrats have no plan, no vision, and no leader.”

Efforts for Democratic Unity

Some Democrats, like Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, advocate for bipartisan cooperation to regain control in upcoming elections.

• Cabot Phillips on Mark Kelly's Message:
  • [08:55] “We are a swing state for control of Congress, but also for the White House, House, and we need to work together as a team.”

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3. Trump Administration's Legal Challenges

Court Rulings Against Executive Orders

The Trump administration faces multiple legal setbacks as federal judges block several executive orders related to elections, immigration, and federal government reforms.

• Specific Legal Setbacks:
  • [10:21] Blocking of Voice of America employees' reinstatement.
  • [10:21] Order to deport a Venezuelan national.
  • [10:21] Blockage of Department of Education's anti-DEI efforts.
  • [10:21] Rejection of stricter voter registration requirements.
  • [10:21] Prevention of withholding funds from sanctuary cities.
  • [10:21] Blocking the ban on unions across federal agencies.

White House Response to Judicial Overreach

Vice President Vance criticizes the judiciary for overstepping constitutional boundaries, asserting that courts are imposing their policy preferences over the will of the people.

• Ron Vitiello on Judicial Actions:
  • [11:36] “Vice President Vance called it a pattern that is not consistent with the Constitution... judges issue these sweeping orders that in many cases go way beyond whatever question the plaintiff sued over to begin with.”

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4. Allegations Against Federal Judges

Cases in Wisconsin and New Mexico

The episode details serious allegations against two federal judges accused of illegally assisting illegal aliens, undermining Trump's immigration agenda.

• Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan:

  • [12:31] Attorney General Pam Bondi describes how Judge Dugan interfered with ICE operations and improperly removed defendants from the courtroom: “She goes out in the hallway, screams at the immigration officers... tells them to leave.”

• Former New Mexico Judge Joel Cano:

  • [13:07] Bondi outlines charges against Judge Cano and his wife for obstruction and evidence destruction: “He took one of the TDA members cell phones himself, took it, beat it with a hammer, destroyed it...”

Severity of Charges

These judges face accusations of supporting criminal activities and harboring dangerous individuals, highlighting a significant threat to national security.

• Bondi's Strong Words:
  • [13:07] “This is the last person that we want in our country, nor will we ever tolerate a judge or anyone else harboring them.”

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5. Impact on Upcoming Elections

Trump's Diminishing Approval Ratings

Recent polls indicate a decline in President Trump's approval, primarily driven by concerns over the economy.

• Poll Statistics:
  • [08:23] Trump’s approval ratings range between 39% to 43%, down 10-14 points in recent weeks.

Potential Republican Challenges

If economic issues persist, Republicans may face difficulties in midterm elections, especially as Democrats attempt to unify and capitalize on internal divisions.

• Tim Pierce on Election Outlook:
  • [09:00] “If those numbers do not improve, Republicans could be facing an uphill battle in the midterms.”

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6. Conclusion and Forward Look

Georgia Howe wraps up the episode by emphasizing the ongoing developments and the critical nature of the upcoming political landscape.

• Final Thoughts:
  • [09:52] “Well, it'll be fascinating to see what Message lands in 2026.”

The episode underscores the dynamic interplay between Trump's administration's efforts to secure the border, the Democratic Party's internal conflicts, and the significant legal challenges that could shape the future political climate in the United States.

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Notable Quotes:

• Tom Homan: “Illegal immigration is not a victim of crime.” — [02:56]
• Governor J.B. Pritzker: “Democrats want to blame our losses on our defense of black people and trans kids and immigrants...” — [06:50]
• Cabot Phillips: “Democrats have no plan, no vision, and no leader.” — [07:56]
• Pam Bondi on Judge Hannah Dugan: “She goes out in the hallway, screams at the immigration officers...” — [12:31]
• Pam Bondi on Judge Joel Cano: “He took one of the TDA members cell phones himself, took it, beat it with a hammer...” — [13:07]

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This summary encapsulates the primary discussions from the "Morning Wire" episode, providing listeners and non-listeners alike with a detailed overview of the Trump administration's border security claims, Democratic Party dynamics, legal battles, and the implications for future elections.

Transcript

[Georgia Howe]

100 days into the new administration and Team Trump declares the border is secure.

[Tom Homan]

Today, as I'm standing here, we are the most secure border in the history of this nation.

[Georgia Howe]

I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley. It's Tuesday, April 29th, and this is Morning Wire. Illinois Democratic Governor J.B. pritzker is fueling presidential Buz after a fiery speech this week targeting Trump.

[Cabot Phillips]

We must castigate them on the soapbox.

[Ron Vitiello]

And then punish them at the ballot box.

[Cabot Phillips]

And while courts block Trump's agenda, the administration strikes back, arresting judges charged with illegally shielding migrants.

[Georgia Howe]

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

[Cabot Phillips]

The White house is celebrating 100 Days of Donald Trump's presidency, and a huge part of its focus is on securing the border.

[Georgia Howe]

Daily Wire. White House correspondent Mary Margaret Olihan was at the White House for the event. Mary Margaret, you spoke to border czar Tom Homan. What did he say?

[Mary Margaret Olihan]

Hey, Georgia. So yesterday was all about immigration at the White House. Just walking down the path to the briefing room, there were over 100 signs highlighting the 100 arrests that the Trump administration has made in these first 100 days. And we're talking about illegal criminals, rapists, murderers, assaults, burglaries, attacks on children, just heinous crimes that occurred throughout the past several years. Now, Tom Homan is never a soft spoken fellow, but when he spoke to the reporters yesterday, he just unleashed as he talked about the Biden administration's border policies, how they purposefully work to unsecure the border, and the steps Trump is taking to fix that problem. Take a look at this.

[Tom Homan]

We hand the Biden administration the most secure border in my lifetime. And he unsecured it on purpose. Under Biden administration, we averaged over 11,000 many days, over 12,000 some days. 15,000 illegal entrants in the United States. You know what the number was the last 24 hours? 178. 15,000 to 178. Unprecedented success under the first hundred days was actually January 20th to April 1st. Last year, 184,000 illegal aliens were released into the United States under this administration. 9. People always want to say, why are you so emotional? When he testified? Why are you so emotional on that network? Because if they wore my shoes for 40 years, they'd understand why I'm emotional. When you listen to the Lake and Riley, 17 men as that young lady fighting for her life, don't just think, okay, a young woman died. Think of how she died, the terror that she went through. And these Children that are sexually assaulted. I stood in the back of tractor trailer and 19 dead people at my feet. That baked to death. Illegal immigration is not a victim of crime.

[Mary Margaret Olihan]

Now, I noticed that so many of the crimes that the Trump administration was highlighting had been committed by illegals against children. So I asked Homan about that. This list has a very high number of sexual assaults on a child. Can you comment on that and why there are so many crimes against children committed by illegals in this country?

[Tom Homan]

I don't know why. It's sick. The amount of child rapists we've arrested under this administration that could have been arrested under the Biden administration. They were out there. They had their final orders. They were out there, but they didn't go look for them.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, you also spoke to some other officials in addition to Tom Homan, correct?

[Mary Margaret Olihan]

That's right. After the briefing was over, I sat down with a number of Trump officials to talk about the first 100 days of this administration. One of these officials was Ron Vitiello, who served under Homan in the first administration. And now he's back for round two. He tells me that things are completely different this time around under Trump.

[Ron Vitiello]

One, we should. I should have been more aggressive in getting the job done. And we don't have that restriction now. Everybody knows what this president's agenda is. Everybody knows what Kristi Noem expects of each of the agencies, in particular agencies, and how we're working together, and we're making that happen. There's a lot to do, and we want to make sure we do it in a way that's sustainable over time.

[Mary Margaret Olihan]

Vidiello explained how closely all these Trump agencies are working together, from DOJ to ICE to Homeland Security to the Defense Department. We also talked to Sebastian Gorka, who said pretty much the same thing.

[Sebastian Gorka]

Pete Hegseth is at the southern border with Tom Pullman and our troops and our CBP patrol agents. And I just asked the question, when in American history have you ever seen a White House immigration senior official at the border with the Secretary of Defense? The fact that you'll see Pam Bondi, you'll see Governor Noem now you'll see the great Alina Haba, you know, with that raid jacket on, on the raids, arresting illegal aliens, getting the cartel members, getting the terrorists incarcerated, or on those flights back to Venezuela or El Salvador, utter complete commitment to mission is what we're seeing overall.

[Mary Margaret Olihan]

A very busy day at the White House where they're feeling like they've made a lot of progress in this first 100 days. On securing the border and protect the American people.

[Georgia Howe]

All right. Well, looking forward to reporting on the next hundred days. Mary Margaret, thanks so much for joining us.

[Mary Margaret Olihan]

Thanks for having me.

[Sebastian Gorka]

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[Cabot Phillips]

Democratic lawmakers are stepping up their rhetoric against President Trump, with one presidential frontrunner being accused of inciting violence against Republicans.

[Georgia Howe]

Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips joins us now to discuss how. So, Cabot, over the past month, you have been reporting on the civil war within the Democratic Party about how to address Trump. What's the latest that we're seeing?

[Tim Pierce]

Yeah. Following the election, the big question for lawmakers on the left was whether they should work to find common ground with Donald Trump and Republicans or oppose his every move. Polling shows the majority of the party's voters now want the Fight Trump approach, and lawmakers on the left seem to be listening. This week, Illinois Governor J.D. pritzker really turned heads with this quote at a speech in New Hampshire to Democrats.

[Ron Vitiello]

Never before in my life, life have I called for mass protests, for mobilization.

[Tim Pierce]

For disruption, but I am now.

[Georgia Howe]

These Republicans cannot know a moment of peace.

[Tim Pierce]

Now, look, it'd be one thing if AOC or Bernie Sanders had said that at this point. Folks are accustomed to that sort of rhetoric from those far left members. But it is a surprise coming from Governor Pritzker, a billionaire heir to the Hyatt hotel empire who's generally been considered more of a mainstream establishment Democrat. But in a sign that he's looking to shake that label and prove his progressive credentials, Pritzker had a clear message for moderate Democrats who've taken the common ground approach with Trump. This part wasn't on video, but the transcript reads, quote, do nothing. Democrats want to blame our losses on our defense of black people and trans kids and immigrants instead of their own lack of guts and gumption. That is a big quote coming from a man widely considered to be one of the frontrunners for the Democratic nomination in 2028. Now, for their part, Republicans are essentially saying, go for it. They are confident that message will fail in 2028, as it did in 24. At that point, we spoke with Congresswoman Lisa McClain, chair of the House Republican Conference. Here's what she had to say about the left's current predicament. Democrats have no plan, no vision, and no leader.

[Georgia Howe]

And when, when you can't beat us on the issues, you have to personalize it. You, you have to, you know, talk about the personalities as opposed to the policies. And that's what the Democrats are doing right now. Let's debate the issues. But they can't debate the issues because they're on the wrong side of the issues. Now, there are still some Democrats who are calling for a more unifying message. Who are they and what are they saying?

[Tim Pierce]

Yeah, California's Gavin Newsom is the poster boy for that strategy. He has urged Democrats to retreat from transgender issues and politically correct language and also to embrace a more pro border security message. But the problem for Newsom and other Democrats like him is that they were on the record for years saying the exact opposite. So they now run the risk of looking like a flip flopper to moderates and a sellout to progressives, who typically are the loudest voice on the left. One of the Democrats now calling for inter party unity is Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, who had this message.

[Cabot Phillips]

We are a swing state for control.

[Ron Vitiello]

Of Congress, but also for the White.

[Cabot Phillips]

House, and we need to work together as a team.

[Ron Vitiello]

You know, we can't be in a situation where, you know, we're divided.

[Tim Pierce]

Now, the one silver lining for Democrats right now is that President Trump's approval rating has taken a hit in recent weeks. Three polls from abc, CNN, and the New York Times all Show him at 42 or 43%, 12 to 14 points underwater. And the numbers are clear on what is driving that decline. It's the economy, an issue where, typically he's been the most popular. CBS has him down to 42% approval on the economy. That's a 10 point drop in the last two months. NBC has him at 40% and the Washington Post shows him with just 39%. Again, that's all on the economy. If those numbers do not improve, Republicans could be facing an uphill battle in the midterms. The big question now is if Democrats can unify and potentially capitalize or if their divisions will lead to another crushing defeat.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, it'll be fascinating to see what Message lands in 2026. Cabot, thanks for reporting Absolutely. Federal judges stepped in and blocked several of Trump's executive orders. Last week, the courts targeted Trump's moves on elections, immigration, and his attempts to reform the federal government.

[Cabot Phillips]

Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce is here to talk about the latest in the administration's legal struggles, as well as a couple of judges with some legal struggles themselves. Hey, Tim. So, first, tell us about these latest rulings.

[Ron Vitiello]

Right. It was a bad week for Trump and the courts. It started on Tuesday. A judge in the D.C. circuit ordered Trump to allow Voice of America employees back into their jobs while he was ordered to deconstruct the way and other federally funded outlets moves forward. On Wednesday, a federal judge in Maryland ordered the Trump administration to seek the return of a second deported migrant. This one is a 20 year old Venezuelan national who was deported to El Salvador after he was convicted of drug charges earlier this year. And then Thursday was the busiest day. First, the same judge in Maryland then blocked some of the Department of Education's anti DEI efforts. The judge said that the department's guidance to universities to scrap DEI programs or risk losing federal funds violated the First Amendment. Then a federal judge in D.C. blocked parts of Trump's order on federal election reform, specifically parts that required a voter to prove citizenship in order to register for federal elections. And then a third ruling against Trump that day came from a federal judge in California. This one blocked the administration from withholding funds from cities it deemed sanctuary jurisdictions that refused to work with deportation enforcement. Finally, to end the week, a federal judge in D.C. blocked the administration from banning unions across dozens of federal agencies.

[Cabot Phillips]

Seemed like every day last week, a new court order against the administration. How is the White House responding to all these legal setbacks?

[Ron Vitiello]

Yeah, Vice President Vance called it a pattern that is not consistent with the Constitution. As he explained on X, the Biden administration does something the American people elected Donald Trump to undo. But then a lawless district court judge substitutes his policy preferences for the will of the people. So the administration is clearly frustrated with how these cases are playing out in court and how consistently judges issue these sweeping orders that in many cases go way beyond whatever question the plaintiff sued over to begin with.

[Cabot Phillips]

Right. A lot of concern about judicial overreach, not just from the White House, but a lot of legal experts that have looked at these rulings. Now, I want to get to these judges that just had federal prosecutors accuse them of something pretty serious. Illegally helping illegal aliens. Tell us about this.

[Ron Vitiello]

Yeah, there are two cases ongoing right now. One that involves a judge in Wisconsin and another of a former judge in New Mexico. Here's what Attorney General Pam Bondi told FOX about the Wisconsin case with Judge Hannah Dugan.

[Pam Bondi]

The judge learns that ICE was outside to get the guy because he had been deported in 2013. Came back in our country. Judge finds out. She goes out in the hallway, screams at the immigration officers. She comes back in the courtroom, you're not going to believe this. Takes the defendant and the defense attorney back in her chambers, takes them out of private exit and tells them to leave. While a state prosecutor and victims of domestic violence are sitting in the courtroom.

[Ron Vitiello]

And then in New Mexico, former Judge Joel Cano and his wife were arrested on charges related to protecting a member of Trende Aragua. Here's Bondi on that.

[Pam Bondi]

So Judge Cano, he's charged with obstruction. He took one of the TDA members cell phones himself, took it, beat it with a hammer, destroyed it, and then walked the pieces to a city dumpster to dispose of it to protect him. The wife also is charged with destroying evidence. This TDA member, he also had on his cell phone pictures of two decapitated victims. Two victims decapitated, Gruesome photos. And he was sending them out. Not only that, these two, the judge and his wife gave him assault rifles that belonged to their daughter. That's what they're charged with in the, in the criminal report affidavit. He goes to a shooting range with these assault rifles with a suppressor with other known TDA members and they're shooting. This is the last person that we want in our country, nor will we ever tolerate a judge or anyone else harboring them.

[Ron Vitiello]

So some pretty serious allegations against these judges, Right?

[Cabot Phillips]

And both with charges related to undermining Trump's immigration agenda, specifically. Tim, thanks so much for reporting.

[Ron Vitiello]

Thanks for having me.

[Georgia Howe]

Thanks for waking up with us. We'll be back tomorrow morning with more news. You need to know.