Trump Speech Fallout & Sanctuary Mayors Testify | 3.6.25

Summary

Morning Wire Summary: Trump Speech Fallout & Sanctuary Mayors Testify | March 6, 2025

Hosted by John Bickley and Georgia Howe, Morning Wire delves into the aftermath of President Trump's primetime speech, the contentious testimony of sanctuary city mayors, and the escalating crisis within New York's prison system.

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1. President Trump's Primetime Speech and Public Reception

Overview: President Trump delivered a highly anticipated primetime address to Congress, which garnered substantial public approval. The host discusses the positive reception of the speech among his supporters and the contrasting negative reactions from Democrats.

Key Points:

• Public Support: Polls indicate a strong favorable response to Trump's speech. According to a CNN poll, "69% of viewers had a positive reaction to what they saw, compared to just 31% negative" (02:09).
• Issue Endorsements: High approval rates were noted for Trump's policies on government spending (77%), immigration (77%), Ukraine strategy (73%), and tariffs (65%) (02:45).
• Speech Tone: CBS reported that "74% referred to the tone as presidential, and 62% said unifying" (02:09).

Notable Quote:

• "63% of viewers said Trump spent a lot of time talking about the issues they care about." – Amanda Presto Giacomo (02:41)

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2. Democrats' Disruptive Reaction to the Speech

Overview: Democrats actively disrupted Trump's speech by heckling, holding signs, and refusing to applaud, leading to significant political fallout.

Key Points:

• Behavior During Speech: Democratic members turned their backs, held signs labeling Trump a liar, and refrained from applauding, including during moments like the release of American hostages and the capture of terrorists (04:07).
• Public Perception: A CNN poll found that "80% of viewers believed Democratic interruptions were inappropriate" (04:07).
• Consequences for Democrats: Rep. Al Green was escorted out and faces potential censure by House Republicans (04:07).

Notable Quotes:

• John Bickley: "The behavior of Democrats last night was completely disgraceful and demonstrated how severely out of touch they are with the American public." (04:16)
• John Bickley: "Democrats didn't stand for an innocent and beautiful child who is surviving brain cancer. They couldn't even clap for two mothers whose daughters were killed by illegal aliens." (04:38)

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3. Ukraine Negotiations and Prospects for Peace

Overview: The podcast covers the Trump administration's strategic pressure on Ukraine, leading to renewed negotiations and optimism for a peace deal.

Key Points:

• Policy Changes: The administration implemented a partial halt on intelligence sharing and weapons shipments to Ukraine, contingent on more respectful negotiations (04:59).
• Negotiation Progress: Ukraine's top aide announced upcoming meetings aimed at a "just and lasting peace," indicating a willingness to negotiate (05:45).
• Implications: A potential peace deal would mark a significant breakthrough in the ongoing conflict (05:45).

Notable Quote:

• "Zelensky's letter to Trump expressing regret for how that Oval Office meeting went down does seem to indicate the Ukrainians are willing to make a deal soon." – Amanda Presto Giacomo (05:45)

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4. Sanctuary City Mayors Testify on Capitol Hill

Overview: House Oversight Committee members grilled mayors from four sanctuary cities—Boston, Chicago, Denver, and New York—over policies Republicans argue undermine federal immigration laws.

Key Points:

• Hearing Dynamics: The hearing was combative, with Republicans asserting that sanctuary cities pose public safety risks by not cooperating with federal immigration authorities (06:34).
• Mayors' Defense: Mayors, including Michelle Wu of Boston and Brandon Johnson of Chicago, maintained that their policies do not violate federal law and emphasize following local laws (07:27).
• Republican Accusations: Chair James Comer accused sanctuary cities of making federal law enforcement dangerous and inefficacious (06:34).

Notable Quotes:

• James Comer: "Sanctuary cities make us all less safe and are a public safety nightmare." (06:34)
• Michelle Wu: "We don't ask about immigration status and delivering. We hold them accountable whenever there's a criminal warrant." (07:27)
• Anna Paulina Luna: "In this trend of you all trying to get thrown out of committee so you can get on MSNBC is going to end. We're not going to put up with it." (10:52)

Notable Exchange:

• Congressman Byron Donalds questioning Mayor Wu on the financial impact of illegal immigration:
  • "How much did you spend?" (08:19)
  • Wu responds: "We don't ask about immigration status and delivering." (08:25)

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5. New York Prison Guards Strike and Governor Hochul's Response

Overview: New York's prison officers have been on strike for safety concerns, leading Governor Kathy Hochul to take decisive actions, including firing striking officers and mobilizing the National Guard.

Key Points:

• Strike Details: Approximately 8,000 officers across more than 30 prisons are striking due to unsafe working conditions and disagreements over the HALT Act (11:29).
• Governor's Actions: Hochul has fired officers, canceled health insurance for strikers, and threatened arrests. She has also mobilized 7,000 National Guard members to assist in prisons (13:28).
• Union Issues: The union has not sanctioned the strike, highlighting a rift between union leadership and rank-and-file members (11:41).
• Violence and Safety: Exclusive footage shows increasing violence in prisons, with at least seven deaths since the strike began (12:26).

Notable Quotes:

• Governor Hochul: "He created very unsafe circumstances. We have warned them day after day." (14:00)
• Connie: "After day that you lose your health care." (14:02)
• John Bickley: "You've lost your job, you lost your income, you've lost everything." (14:08)

Exclusive Report: Amanda Presto Giacomo shares graphic footage from Green Haven Correctional Facility, illustrating the severe violence and unrest resulting from the strike (12:26).

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Conclusion

The episode of Morning Wire provides a comprehensive analysis of the current political climate, highlighting President Trump's continued influence, the deepening divisions between Republicans and Democrats, and the pressing issues surrounding immigration and public safety. The discussions underscore the challenges facing American leadership and the potential implications for national policy and security.

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For more detailed coverage and exclusive footage, visit DailyWire.com.

Transcript

[Georgia Howe]

President Trump is riding high amid strong approval for his primetime speech, while Democrats are facing more political fallout. They made themselves the story. They heckled, they had signs.

[John Bickley]

They walked out.

[Cabot Phillips]

They looked like petulant children.

[Georgia Howe]

And that became the story.

[Cabot Phillips]

Plus, Ukraine says they're ready for peace. How did Trump bring them back to the negotiating table?

[Georgia Howe]

I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire Editor in Chief John Bickley. It's Thursday, March 6th, and this is Morning Wire. Several Blue City mayors are grilled on Capitol Hill over policies Republicans say create sanctuaries for criminals to the city of Boston.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Just understand that your mayor does not care how much of your resources she.

[John Bickley]

Has spent on people who are not citizens.

[Cabot Phillips]

The city of Boston. And Governor Hochul begins firing New York prison guards on strike over unsafe working conditions. There was an officer here that got their finger bit off. He didn't come home in one piece.

[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]

Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips is here to explain. So, Cabot, let's start with the big address. How was that received by Americans?

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Yeah. As the dust settles, the polling data is clear. Viewers were widely supportive of President Trump's address, both in substance and tone. According to CNN, for example, 69% of viewers had a positive reaction to what they saw, compared to just 31% negative. CBS had even more good news for the president. They found that 76% of viewers approved, 74% referred to the tone as presidential, and 62% said unifying. And more broadly, 63% of viewers said Trump spent, quote, a lot of time talking about the issues they care about.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, and the numbers also showed support for some of these issues themselves.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Right. CBS found that 77% supported Trump's plans for cutting wasteful government spending. The same number supported his plans for immigration, 73% supported a strategy on Ukraine, and 65% his approach on tariffs. The list goes on. Now, it is worth noting those numbers are not reflective of the general population. These are polls of just those who watched the address. But regardless, the Trump camp is certainly thrilled with the public reaction to his big night.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, one of the big stories from the address, though, was Democrats protests, including refusing to applaud at all, as well as some interruptions. How was that received?

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Yeah, for those who missed it, Democratic members turned their backs on Trump as he entered the chamber, held signs up calling him a liar, heckled him throughout the entire evening, and refrained from applauding anything he talked about, including the release of American hostages and the capture of terrorists. According to that CNN poll, 80% of viewers believed Democratic interruptions were inappropriate, especially Rep. Al Green, who was escorted out by the sergeant at arms after standing up and shouting for a minute straight during the address. On Wednesday, House Republicans put forward a motion to censure Greene for his actions. A vote there could take place as early as tomorrow. For a part, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt took to the podium yesterday with a word for Green and other Democrats who attempted to disrupt the event.

[John Bickley]

The behavior of Democrats last night was completely disgraceful and demonstrated how severely out of touch they are with the American public.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Now, it's worth noting the fact that Democratic members refused to clap for everything Trump said is obviously understandable. But historically, no matter who is in office, there are moments in virtually every address when both parties will stand together to applaud particularly patriotic or moving moments during a speech. Levitt had a strong message for the vast majority of Democrats who refused to do so.

[John Bickley]

Democrats didn't stand for an innocent and beautiful child who is surviving brain cancer. They couldn't even clap for two mothers whose daughters were killed by illegal aliens. One of the only things that could get Democrats off their feet last night was cheering for Ukraine, not for America.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, on the topic of Ukraine, what's the latest there?

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

So Trump is continuing to up the pressure on Zelensky. Yesterday morning, the administration implemented a partial halt on intelligence sharing with Ukrainians. That comes after they halted weapons shipments. On Monday, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told CBS the pause could be lifted if Ukraine came back to the negotiating table with a more respectful, deferential approach. So the Trump administration essentially trying to remind Zelenskyy how badly he needs American backing, and it appears to be working. On Wednesday, Zelensky's top aide said officials from the two countries had agreed to meet, quote, in the near future and had renewed conversations on a just and lasting peace. That, along with Zelensky's letter to Trump expressing regret for how that Oval Office meeting went down, does seem to indicate the Ukrainians are willing to make a deal soon.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, a peace deal in Ukraine would be a major breakthrough. Kabat, thanks for reporting.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Anytime.

[Georgia Howe]

The House Oversight Committee brought in the mayors of four sanctuary cities on Wednesday to testify over their policies on illegal aliens. The contentious hearing featured a showdown between Republican lawmakers and Democratic mayors who claim they abide by federal law.

[Cabot Phillips]

Here to give us the highlights from the hearing is Daily Wire reporter Tim Pearce. Tim, so first, what was the feeling in the room yesterday? Pretty combative. The Oversight Committee brought in four Democratic mayors to grill them on their sanctuary city policies. Those mayors would be Michelle Wu of Boston, Brandon Johnson of Chicago, Mike Johnston of Denver, and Eric Adams of New York. Here's the committee's chair, James Comer, opening the hearing with some strong words against them.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

If sanctuary cities were to simply communicate and work with federal immigration authorities, then federal agents could arrest criminal illegal aliens in a secure environment. Instead, they have to risk their own safety and public safety by having to go into uncertain, dangerous circumstances just to make arrest. Sanctuary cities make us all less safe and are a public safety nightmare.

[Cabot Phillips]

There was also one witness invited by the Democrats, David Beer, the director of immigration studies at the libertarian Cato Institute. But the real show was between Republicans and the mayors, right? There was bound to be some fireworks there. What were some of the key moments? One of the lines you heard often from these mayors is that their sanctuary city laws supposedly do not violate federal law. But then Republicans pointed out that federal immigration law can't be enforced if these cities won't work with federal law enforcement. Here's an exchange on that between Comer and Wu.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Last year, in a Boston suburb, an illegal alien raped and impregnated his 14 year old daughter while living in a shelter for illegal aliens. Mayor Wu, under Boston law, would you turn this criminal over to ice? On a detainer?

[Cabot Phillips]

Whenever there's a criminal warrant, Boston police.

[John Bickley]

Enforce that and hold people accountable.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

So would you turn that criminal over to ice?

[John Bickley]

This happened outside the city of Boston.

[Cabot Phillips]

But I can tell you in the.

[John Bickley]

City, whenever someone commits a crime, whenever.

[Cabot Phillips]

There'S a criminal warrant, we hold them accountable.

[Georgia Howe]

If ICE deems that they are dangerous.

[Cabot Phillips]

Enough to hold, obtain a criminal warrant and the Boston police will enforce it.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Will you turn that criminal over to ice? We follow the laws that we make.

[Cabot Phillips]

Sure Wu also took some heat from Congressman Byron Donalds for not knowing how much illegal immigration has cost her city.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Mayor Wu, in the city of Boston.

[Cabot Phillips]

How much did you spend?

[John Bickley]

We don't ask about immigration status and delivering.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

You don't ask about how much money the city of Boston has spent on illegal immigration.

[Cabot Phillips]

Out of your mind. A side note on Wu, according to the Boston Herald, she spent $650,000 in taxpayer funds to prepare for yesterday's testimony. That money went to a New York City based law firm to pay for document collection and so called prep sessions ahead of the hearing. Wu then spent another $8,500 to bring additional staff to the hearing as well. But Wu and the other mayors stood by their policies throughout the hearing. Florida Congressman Anna Paulina Luna probably had the most pointed line when she said they should all be prosecuted.

[John Bickley]

This line of questioning, it's very clear that these policies that you have all implicated are active and alive and well in your cities are in direct violation with US tit 8 code subsection 1324 and is a federal offense. Unfortunately, based on your responses, I'm going to be criminally referring you to the Department of Justice for investigation. And as soon as I leave here, these will be going over to Pam Bondi.

[Cabot Phillips]

At one point, Johnson appeared to get a bit uneasy when Congressman Brandon Gill asked the Chicago mayor about gifts the city has received since he's been in office. On March 18, 2024, you received a Gucci tote bag.

[John Bickley]

Do you know who gave you that? Gave the city of Chicago that?

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Ken?

[Cabot Phillips]

I was here and I was invited. I'll also take that on Welcoming City. I'm happy to answer any of those questions what a welcoming city is. Ethical concerns. You are providing an enormous amount of aid to illegal aliens, aiding and abetting criminals who have come into our country illegally. And you yourself are receiving an enormous amount of gifts and you won't even tell us who they're coming from. And what about the Democrats on the committee? How did they handle the hearing? They were pretty kind to the mayors, except for one Mayor Adams. He took heat because of his relationship with the Trump administration. Adams has agreed to help crack down on violent illegals in New York City. Here's Congressman Robert Garcia asking him about that.

[John Bickley]

Are you selling out New Yorkers to.

[Cabot Phillips]

Save yourself from prosecution?

[Georgia Howe]

There's no deal, no quid pro quo. And I did nothing wrong.

[Cabot Phillips]

And then there were some disruptions like this one that blew up into a shouting match between Comer and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley.

[John Bickley]

I have several articles. I need to enter them. Let me just go ahead with the.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

What's the next article?

[John Bickley]

Let me proceed. Data from Texas shows that us Born Americans commit more rape and murder than immigrants.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

In this trend of you all trying to get thrown out of committee so you can get on MSNBC is going to end. We're not going to put up with it.

[Cabot Phillips]

Now. This was a long hearing, about six hours. But generally Republicans came at the mayor's hard and the mayors stood by their policies. The White House has been pretty clear that its immigration agenda will be enforced whether sanctuary cities get on board or not. Tim, thanks for joining us. Good to be on. New York correctional officers and sergeants are now into their third week of striking. Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul has started firing officers and canceling their health insurance if they remain on strike.

[Georgia Howe]

Here to discuss is Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presto Giacomo. So, Amanda, if these officers are striking over on the job, safety concerns, now the governor has started to fire officers, why has it been so hard to reach a deal?

[John Bickley]

Yeah. Well, first it's important to note that the union representing these striking officers and sergeants has not sanctioned this strike, even though they're the ones negotiating. Officers feel like union bosses are on the side of the governor and at odds with their rank and file. The disconnect between the leadership and the workers was on full display this weekend when Hochul brokered a deal with the union. She offered a bump in overtime pay and issued a 90 day suspension to certain provisions in the HALT act that relates to solitary confinement or special housing units. The governor's offer was largely rejected. And across more than 30 prisons in New York, the strike continues for about 8,000 officers. On Tuesday, more than 1,000 officers and their supporters took to Albany to protest the governor.

[Cabot Phillips]

Hold the light. Hold the light.

[Georgia Howe]

Hold the line.

[John Bickley]

Officers said at the outset of this that they want the full repeal of the halt act and they don't want a work mandated 24 hour or sometimes up to 72 hour shifts anymore. I spoke to a source who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retribution. And they stressed that the strike is not about the money, but about how the, quote, liberal agenda has destroyed our justice system. They said the HALT act has made it basically impossible for officers to discipline routine problems inside the prisons and it's putting safety at risk for everyone, including inmates. A source sent the Daily Wire exclusive footage from inside Green Haven Correctional Facility in New York to show the public the type of violence that's been taking place since the HALT act was passed. The three minutes of graphic footage, which can be viewed on DailyWire.com includes an inmate slicing the face of a female visitor, the fatal stabbing of a 30 year old inmate, another inmate seizing on the ground with brain trauma after an attack and numerous attacks on staff members. The source said the footage is just the tip of the iceberg.

[Georgia Howe]

Right. It's very hard to watch. So what action has Hochul taken since that deal was rejected by the rank and file?

[John Bickley]

Well, Hochul is not making any concessions and she's taken to firing officers who are continuing to strike, which is notable since a lot of these safety concerns stem from chronic understaffing and low recruitment. Termination started on Sunday and it's been reported that about 10 officers have been fired so far, though that number is expected to rise. The governor has also moved to terminate the health insurance for up to 8,000 officers. Hochul has also threatened to arrest officers and she's started proceedings to do just that for hundreds already. Here's the governor on Tuesday.

[Cabot Phillips]

He created very unsafe circumstances.

[John Bickley]

We have warned them day after day.

[Georgia Howe]

After day that you lose your health care.

[Cabot Phillips]

The health care is gone.

[John Bickley]

People are going to go to be arrested.

[Cabot Phillips]

You could be going to jail.

[John Bickley]

You've lost your job, you lost your income, you've lost everything. Hochul has also mobilized 7,000 National Guard members and thousands are working in the prisons right now. Numerous of those National Guard members have leaked photos to the press of the cramped and squalid conditions they've been subjected to. And last note on that, a lot of controversy is starting to brew as the number of deaths inside these prisons start to rack up. Since the strike started, at least seven people have died, one has been deemed a suicide, and at least one death is under investigation.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, it's a very precarious situation. Amanda, thanks for reporting.

[John Bickley]

You're welcome.

[Georgia Howe]

Thanks for waking up with us. We'll be back later this afternoon with more news. You need to know.