Morning Wire: Trump Shuffles Pentagon & Cartel Terror Designation | Episode Released on February 24, 2025

Host/Author: The Daily Wire
Hosts: John Bickley (Editor-in-Chief) and Georgia Howe
Description: Morning Wire delivers daily coverage of the latest developments in politics, culture, education, sports, and more, presented by Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley and co-host Georgia Howe.

Overview

In this episode of Morning Wire, hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe delve into significant developments within the Trump administration, including a major reshuffle of the Pentagon's leadership, the designation of several international cartels as terrorist organizations, and a high-stakes legal battle between the state of Maine and President Trump over gender policies in sports. The episode provides in-depth analysis, expert commentary, and notable quotes from key figures involved in these stories.

Trump Reshuffles Pentagon Leadership

Major Pentagon Shake-Up

At [00:03], John Bickley introduces the major news of President Trump's decision to reshuffle the Pentagon by removing several top defense officials. Georgia Howe promptly questions the reasons behind these removals and inquires about potential successors.

By [01:34], Cabot Phillips, Daily Wire's Senior Editor, provides a detailed breakdown of the changes. President Trump has removed three key figures from the Pentagon:

1. Admiral Lisa Franchetti - Chief of Naval Operations, the Navy's top officer.
2. General Jim Slife - Vice Chief of Staff, number two at the Air Force.
3. General CQ Brown - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Phillips explains that Trump seeks to eliminate government bureaucrats he perceives as obstacles to his mission, emphasizing that institutional change requires leadership fully aligned with his vision. The replacement of General Brown by Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Kane, who previously served as the associate director for Military Affairs at the CIA, is highlighted as a significant move, despite Kane not holding the traditional qualifications for the position. Trump justified this appointment by stating, "Kaine was integral in the destruction of ISIS during his first term and will, quote, restore peace through strength, put America first, and rebuild our military" ([02:28], [03:28]).

Rationale Behind the Replacements

Phillips discusses the underlying reasons for targeting General Brown, noting Republican criticisms of Brown's focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Trump’s administration accuses Brown of prioritizing DEI to the detriment of military efficiency, citing Brown’s support for racial quotas and public backing of movements like Black Lives Matter ([03:33]).

Pete Hegseth, a notable Republican commentator, defends Trump's actions, stating at [04:51]: “Nothing about this is unprecedented. The president deserves to pick his key national security and military advisory team.” Hegseth compares Trump’s actions to those of past presidents who have made similar changes, arguing that such moves are a reflection of the President seeking the right personnel to execute his national security strategy.

Phillips concludes that despite criticisms, Trump is following a historical precedent of presidential reshuffles aimed at aligning military leadership with administrative goals ([05:28]-[05:34]).

Cartels Designated as Terrorist Organizations

Official Designation and Its Implications

At [06:18], the discussion shifts to the Trump administration's significant policy move of designating eight international cartels as terrorist organizations. Georgia Howe introduces Tim Pierce, a Daily Wire reporter, to explain the practical ramifications of this designation.

Pierce elaborates that organizations such as Venezuela's Tren de Aragua and Mexico's Jalisco Cartel will now be treated similarly to established terrorist groups like Al Qaeda. This change grants the U.S. government expanded authority to impose sanctions, pursue criminal charges, and target individuals or entities providing material support to these cartels ([06:37]). Border Czar Tom Homan reinforces this stance by asserting at [07:14]: “The president is going to designate the criminal cartels of Mexico as a terrorist organization. He's going to wipe you off the face of the earth.”

Increased Surveillance and Military Preparedness

Pierce further informs listeners about the administration's ramped-up surveillance efforts, including increased drone flights over Mexico, with capabilities potentially upgraded to carry lethal payloads ([07:39]). This heightened surveillance underscores the administration's commitment to aggressively combating cartel activities both domestically and internationally.

Historical Hesitancy and Current Momentum

Georgia Howe probes why previous administrations hesitated to adopt similar measures. Pierce attributes the reluctance to Mexican opposition, led by Presidents Claudia Sheinbaum and Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who feared the designation could undermine Mexico's sovereignty and escalate military involvement in tackling cartels ([08:06]). However, with the designation now in place, Pierce anticipates that Mexico and other Latin American nations might adopt more stringent measures against cartels, possibly leading to severe internal conflicts akin to a civil war ([08:54]).

Presidential Determination and Future Actions

In response to potential questions about the extent of military involvement, Tim Pierce indicates that while President Trump hasn't ruled out using military force against cartels, his immediate focus appears to be on dismantling cartel operations within the United States ([08:59]). President Trump's speech at CPAC reinforces this strategy, emphasizing the removal and expulsion of cartel members from U.S. soil ([09:06]-[09:27]).

Maine vs. Trump: The Battle Over Women's Sports

Executive Order and Maine's Defiance

Georgia Howe introduces the escalating conflict between the state of Maine and the Trump administration regarding an executive order banning males from participating in women's sports. At [09:53], Howe details how Governor Janet Mills of Maine has refused to comply with President Trump's February 5th executive order, leading to a direct confrontation.

Confrontation at the White House

The situation reaches a critical point when Governor Mills confronts President Trump at a working session on Friday. Trump's aggressive stance is captured at [11:08], where he demands compliance with his order, threatening to withhold federal funding and declaring, “Enjoy your life after, governor, because I don't think you'll be in elected politics.”

Altercations and Allegations

Following the confrontation, Mary Margaret Olihan, Daily Wire White House Correspondent, reports an alleged meltdown by Jeremy Kennedy, Maine's Chief of Staff. According to Olihan, during a discussion with White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Alex Meyer, Kennedy reportedly reacted violently, though the Maine governor's office does not confirm the use of profanity ([11:43]-[13:03]). Republican state legislators advocate for investigating Kennedy’s behavior, highlighting concerns over his professional conduct.

Legal and Financial Implications

Olihan explains that Governor Mills has vowed to seek legal action to protect Maine's federal funding, which amounts to approximately $175 million for the Maine Department of Education alone. Mills argues that Maine's Human Rights Act, which prohibits gender identity discrimination, justifies the inclusion of boys in girls' sports ([13:07]-[13:58]).

John Bickley concludes this segment by emphasizing the high stakes involved and the likelihood that President Trump will remain steadfast in his position, given his strong support base ([13:58]-[14:05]).

USAID Workforce Reduction

In addition to the primary topics, Georgia Howe briefly mentions that the Trump administration is letting go of another 2,000 USAID employees and placing most personnel worldwide on administrative leave. This move reflects the administration's ongoing scrutiny and criticism of USAID's programs, which they deem wasteful and overly leftist ([14:09]-[14:46]).

Conclusion

This episode of Morning Wire provides comprehensive coverage of pivotal actions taken by the Trump administration, including significant personnel changes within the Pentagon, the strategic designation of cartels as terrorist organizations, and the contentious legal battle with Maine over gender policies in sports. Through expert analysis and direct quotes from involved parties, the episode offers listeners a thorough understanding of these critical issues shaping current political and social landscapes.

Notable Quotes:

• Donald Trump [00:42]: "Every state has a responsibility to comply with Title IX, and we'll be enforcing aggressively and we're going to be protecting our citizens."

• Tom Homan [00:30]: "You have killed more Americans than every terrorist organization in the world combined."

• Pete Hegseth [04:51]: "Nothing about this is unprecedented. The president deserves to pick his key national security and military advisory team."

• Donald Trump [09:06]: "Their members and their leaders in the United States will be hunted down. I'm talking about MS.13. They're hunting them down."

• Donald Trump [11:11]: "Well, you better do it because you're not going to get any federal funding at all if you don't. ... I look forward to that. That should be a real easy one."

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