Trump Super Bowl Buzz & New Media Rises | 2.10.25

Summary

Morning Wire Episode Summary: "Trump Super Bowl Buzz & New Media Rises | 2.10.25"

Release Date: February 10, 2025

In this episode of Morning Wire, Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley and co-host Georgia Howe delve into the latest developments surrounding former President Donald Trump, the shifting landscape of media under the new administration, and ongoing legal battles with legacy media outlets. Below is a comprehensive summary of the key discussions, insights, and conclusions drawn during the episode.

---

1. Trump’s Prominent Super Bowl Sunday Presence

Timestamp: 00:03 – 05:58

The episode opens with a focus on President Donald Trump’s significant appearance during Super Bowl Sunday, marking his active role early in his second term. John Bickley highlights Trump's strategic efforts to reform the federal government, emphasizing the need to "solve the efficiency problem" by addressing "fraud, waste, abuse" within governmental operations (00:09).

Key Highlights:

• Super Bowl Interview: Trump conducted a high-profile interview on Super Bowl Sunday, aiming to communicate his administration’s agenda directly to the public.

  Quote: Georgia Howe states, “We have to solve the efficiency problem. We have to solve the fraud, waste, abuse, all the things that have gone on in the government.” (00:09)

• First Sitting President at Super Bowl: Megan Basham notes that Trump became the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl in person, breaking a two-year trend where President Joe Biden declined similar opportunities (01:58).

  Quote: Georgia Howe comments on the symbolic importance, saying, “I think just the spirit of the country. The country's taken on a whole new life. I thought it would be a good thing for the country to have the president be at the game.” (02:11)

• Engagement with Athletes and Fans: Trump’s presence was met with enthusiasm as he interacted with players and fans, receiving applause during the national anthem despite limited on-screen time.

  Quote: Megan Basham describes the scene, “the arena burst into applause when he was shown on the Jumbotron during the national anthem.” (03:00)

2. Surging Approval Ratings for Trump

Timestamp: 05:35 – 05:58

The conversation shifts to Trump’s rising approval ratings, supported by recent polling data that suggests an increase in his popularity compared to his previous term.

Key Highlights:

• Poll Results: CBS’s latest national poll reveals Trump with a 53% approval rating, his highest in eight years. Similar trends are observed in Rasmussen and Emerson polls, with net favorability ratings of +6 and +8 respectively.

  Quote: Megan Basham emphasizes the improvement, “Simply put, he is disproving the notion that after eight years on the national stage, Americans have their minds made up on it.” (04:39)

• Support Among Young Voters: Notably, Trump enjoys substantial support from younger demographics, with 55% approval among Americans under 30, a significant rise from previous years.

  Quote: Megan Basham shares insights from interviews, “My life was better and more affordable when Trump was in office.” (05:49)

3. Revolutionizing Media Access: Embracing New Media Outlets

Timestamp: 07:06 – 11:05

A major portion of the episode examines the Trump administration’s overhaul of media engagement, aiming to democratize press access by integrating non-traditional media outlets into the White House press briefings.

Key Highlights:

• Inclusive Press Briefings: Caroline Levitt outlines how the administration is expanding media access to include political podcasts, bloggers, and independent journalists, acknowledging the need to reach diverse and underserved audiences.

  Quote: Caroline Levitt explains, “Because of that, they're now welcoming non traditional media outlets into the briefing room.” (07:18)

• Permanent Seats for New Media: The White House has introduced a permanent seat for rotating members of the new media, with over 11,500 outlets applying for credentials.

• Impact on Legacy Media: Legacy outlets like The Washington Post, New York Times, CNN, Politico, and NPR face reduced access and workspace, causing significant friction.

  Quote: Megan Basham criticizes the traditional media backlash, “Owners, saying, we will not speak truth to power. We will acquiesce to power at the expense of truth.” (10:41)

• Administration’s Stance: The administration is perceived as favoring Trump-friendly outlets, though it also includes outlets with left-leaning audiences, such as The Huffington Post and The Free Press.

Conclusion: The Trump administration's media reforms signify a strategic pivot away from historically dominant legacy media, embracing a broader spectrum of voices to reshape public discourse.

4. Legal Battles with Legacy Media Outlets

Timestamp: 09:59 – 11:05

The episode delves into Trump’s ongoing legal confrontations with established media organizations, highlighting recent settlements and potential future lawsuits.

Key Highlights:

• ABC’s Settlement: ABC has agreed to settle a defamation lawsuit with Trump, issuing a public apology as part of the resolution.

• CBS’s Legal Challenges: Paramount, CBS’s parent company, is anticipated to settle a $10 billion lawsuit filed by Trump against 60 Minutes, accusing the network of deceptive editing meant to aid Kamala Harris’s campaign.

  Quote: Caroline Levitt states, “He claims that during the election, the network deceptively edited its interview with Kamala Harris in order to help her campaign.” (10:22)

• Legacy Media's Criticism: Figures from legacy media, including Jake Tapper at CNN, express outrage over these legal actions, framing them as attacks on journalistic integrity.

  Quote: Megan Basham asserts, “For Paramount to settle this suit would be hoisting a white flag of surrender.” (10:35)

Conclusion: These legal disputes underscore the escalating tensions between Trump and traditional media outlets, reflecting broader battles over media influence and credibility.

5. Challenges Within the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

Timestamp: 11:16 – 14:45

The final segment addresses the legal impediments faced by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as it endeavors to reform federal operations, revealing internal conflicts and external resistance.

Key Highlights:

• Judicial Obstacles: A federal judge has temporarily barred DOGE from accessing Treasury Department data, part of a series of injunctions hindering the agency’s efforts to streamline government operations.

• Origins of DOGE’s Structure: Luke Rosiak explains that DOGE, originally the US Digital Service established by Obama, was repurposed by Trump into a supposedly nonpartisan office. However, internal staffing issues led to allegations of partisan bias and inefficiency.

  Quote: Luke Rosiak details, “The staff exploited that kindness and turned it into a weakness... USDS became a hotbed of radical far left activism operating from within Trump's White House.” (12:56)

• Elon Musk’s Involvement: Elon Musk’s agency, influenced by the legacy of DOGE, faces scrutiny as legal challenges persist. Musk responded on social media with, “live by the sword, die by the sword,” hinting at further confrontations if Trump intensifies his efforts.

Conclusion: DOGE’s struggles exemplify the complexities of governmental reform under Trump, highlighting both internal mismanagement and external legal resistance.

---

Final Thoughts

This episode of Morning Wire provides a thorough analysis of Donald Trump’s strategic moves in his administration’s early days, particularly focusing on his media strategies and approval ratings. The discussions reveal a concerted effort to reshape media engagement, challenge legacy outlets, and reform governmental operations amidst significant legal and political obstacles. The insights shared by John Bickley, Georgia Howe, and contributors like Megan Basham and Caroline Levitt offer listeners a detailed perspective on the evolving political and media landscape.

---

Note: All quotes are attributed with their respective timestamps for reference.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

President Trump gives a big Super Bowl Sunday interview as he continues his blitz to reform the federal government.

[Georgia Howe]

We have to solve the efficiency problem. We have to solve the fraud, waste, abuse, all the things that have gone on in the government.

[Cabot Phillips]

How do most Americans feel about the president so far?

[John Bickley]

I'm Daily Wire Editor in Chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Monday, February 10th, and this is Morning Wire. New Media is on the rise under the new administration. Who are the biggest winners and losers? And what's the latest on Trump's legal battle with legacy outlets?

[Georgia Howe]

They should lose their license, which is worth billions of dollars.

[Cabot Phillips]

And a judge blocks Doge from accessing treasury data as bureaucrats work to thwart the Elon Musk led agency.

[John Bickley]

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

[Brandon]

Hey guys, Producer Brandon here. Black Rifle Coffee helps you wake up each morning feeling dialed in and ready to make the most of your day. And now's your Chance to get 20 off your purchase using code daily wire@black riflecoffee.com all of their explosive coffees are roasted right here in the USA by a veteran led team of expert roasters obsessed with crafting the perfect cup of coffee. Every Black Rifle purchase gives back to those who serve our nation. Your support makes it possible for Black Rifle Coffee Company to help provide funding, training and equipment to our nation's military and first responders. Head over to their site now for 20% off your purchase with code Daily Wire.

[Cabot Phillips]

All eyes were on the Super Bowl Sunday and on President Trump, who sat down for a big interview and appeared at the game. The high profile moments come as three weeks into his second term, new polling shows he's more popular than ever.

[John Bickley]

Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips is here with more. Hey, Gabbit. So Trump making Super Bowl Sunday interviews. Great again here. Let's start there. What did we hear from the president?

[Megan Basham]

Yeah, this was actually a return to tradition. As Joe Biden had declined interviews the last two years, Trump sat down with Fox's Brett Baier and explained why he chose to attend the game in person. He was actually the first sitting president to ever attend a Super Bowl.

[Georgia Howe]

I think just the spirit of the country. The country's taken on a whole new life. I thought it would be a good thing for the country to have the president be at the game.

[Megan Basham]

Trump was also grilled by Bayer on his backing of Elon Musk, who really has come under fire in recent weeks for his plans to slash government spending as part of his department of government efficiency.

[Georgia Howe]

And I've had a great help with Elon Musk, who's been terrific. Bottom line, you say you trust him, Trust Elon. Oh, he's not gaining anything. In fact, I wonder how he can devote the time to it. He's so into it. But I told him do that. Then I'm going to tell him very soon, like maybe in 24 hours to go check the Department of Education. He's going to find the same thing. Then I'm going to go to the military. Let's check the military. We're going to find billions, hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud and abuse.

[John Bickley]

Trump then, of course, went to the big game. Tell us about that sequence of events.

[Megan Basham]

Yeah, it was quite a day for the president, who started the morning off with a round of golf with Tiger woods before heading over to the Superdome for the game. Trump walked around the field during warmups and was greeted warmly by a number of players, including the family of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. And while the game broadcast only showed him briefly on screen, the arena burst into applause when he was shown on the Jumbotron during the national anthem. Have a listen. Now, as for the game itself, the Philadelphia Eagles denied the Kansas City Chiefs their shot at a three peat, crushing the two time defending champs 40 to 22. It was hard for this Cowboys fan to watch the Eagles celebrate, but was their night right?

[John Bickley]

Now, as Georgia mentioned at the top, we have some new numbers coming out over the weekend on Trump approval. What did we learn?

[Megan Basham]

Yeah. On Sunday, CBS released their first national poll since Trump took office and it showed President Trump with a 53% approval rating. That is his highest mark in any CBS poll over the last eight years. We saw similar results from Rasmussen and Emerson polls which had him with net favorability ratings of 6 and 8 points, respectively. Those numbers become even more stunning when you take into account just how polarizing and unpopular Trump was when he last held office. Remember, In January of 2021, just 38% of Americans approved of his performance, while 58% disapproved. He was 20 points underwater.

[John Bickley]

Yeah.

[Megan Basham]

Simply put, he is disproving the notion that after eight years on the national stage, Americans have their minds made up on it.

[Luke Rosiak]

Yeah.

[John Bickley]

It certainly seems Americans are really giving Trump a fresh look this go round. Now, you really dug into these numbers. What stood out the most?

[Megan Basham]

Well, first, it's how popular Trump's policies continue to be with the general public. CBS found that 59% of Americans support deporting all illegal immigrants, 64% support deploying troops to the southern border. And 54% approve of his handling of the war in Israel. And more broadly, folks are pleased with how active he's been. 70% said whether they like him or not, he's doing what he promised he would do on the campaign trail. Also of note is how popular Trump is right now with young voters. This poll found that 55% of Americans under the age of 30 approve of the job he's doing. Again, those numbers would have been unthinkable four years ago when he was around 30% with young folks. I personally interviewed hundreds of young voters over the last year and I heard the same message over and over. My life was better and more affordable when Trump was in office. We'll see if those numbers and that sentiment holds up, but it is very real, as evidenced in November and in poll after poll since.

[John Bickley]

Well, there's no doubt that there's real momentum for Trump so far. Kevin, thanks for reporting.

[Megan Basham]

Anytime.

[Brandon]

Have you seen all those woke executives just now jumping on the bandwagon of freedom and liberty? Where were they when banks were sharing your data with big government and canceling patriots? Remember who they really are and certainly don't trust them now with your money. Trust the FDIC insured bank that was created to protect your privacy, security and liberty. Old Glory bank co founded in 2022 by Dr. Ben Carson, Larry Elder and John Rich, Old Glory bank now serves tens of thousands of customers in all 50 states. Head over to Old Glory today to open your account and put your money in the hands of people you can actually trust.

[Megan Basham]

The Trump White House will speak to.

[Caroline Levitt]

All media outlets and personalities, not just.

[Megan Basham]

The legacy media who are seated in this room.

[Caroline Levitt]

Because according to recent polling from Gallup.

[Megan Basham]

Americans trust in mass media has fallen to a record low.

[John Bickley]

That's White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt describing the Trump administration's new approach to engaging the media, not only making itself more accessible, but also welcoming newer, non traditional outlets to press briefings. But some in the legacy media aren't happy with the changes.

[Cabot Phillips]

Here with the details is Daily Wire culture reporter Megan Basham. So, Megan, the Trump administration has been making sweeping reforms, including their approach to media. So what are some of the biggest changes?

[Caroline Levitt]

So the White House says that they're emphasizing access and availability. And because of that, they're now welcoming non traditional media outlets into the briefing room. And that includes political podcasts, bloggers, independent journalists, people like that who reach large and or underserved audiences. So to give you just one example, one of the White House's first press briefings included John Ashbrook of the podcast Ruthless, which is especially popular with young men. And then newer outlets with very large audiences like the Daily Wire also now have ongoing credentials for daily briefings. And our new White House correspondent, Mary Margaret Olihan, has already been called on for several questions. So the White House has also established a permanent seat that will be occupied by rotating members of the new media. And Levitt invited outlets to apply for credentials for that seat, and at last count, at least 11,500 have done so.

[Cabot Phillips]

So this is for White House press briefings, but what about other parts of the administration? Are they taking a similar approach?

[Caroline Levitt]

Some are. So already the Department of Defense has restructured its press access with a new annual media rotation program. So legacy outlets like the Washington Post, New York Times, cnn, Politico, npr, they'll still be members of the Pentagon press corps and have access to DoD briefings, but they're not going to get dedicated workspace in the building, which they have in the past. Instead, this year those offices are going to outlets like the New York Post, Newsmax, the Huffington Post, the Free Press, and then they'll rotate again in 2026.

[Cabot Phillips]

Now, I imagine these legacy outlets are not happy about this.

[Caroline Levitt]

Well, I would say that's putting it mildly. A New York Times spokesman said that these are quoting here steps designed to impede access that are clearly not in the public interest. And a former Politico exec told CNN that it's the erasure of journalism. So some somewhat hyperbolic responses there. And then just generally, you're hearing these outlets who are losing their workspaces accusing the administration of giving preferential treatment to Trump friendly outlets. And you do have to say it's true that some of these outlets are considerably more favorable to Trump than, say, CNN and the Washington Post, whose own owner, Jeff Bezos, has acknowledged that it has a liberal bias problem. But again, this new rotation program is also providing space to media that are notably left, like the Huffington Post, or you could say consistently neutral, like the Free Press. But I do think it highlights that Trump no longer feels that he has to play nice with frequently hostile legacy outlets anymore, and he's no longer willing to give them pride of place just because past administrations did. So.

[Cabot Phillips]

Now there's also some very significant tension with certain networks for legal reasons. So what's the latest on Trump's legal settlements?

[Caroline Levitt]

Well, already ABC has settled with Trump over a defamation lawsuit and issued a public apology. Now it looks like CBS's ownership, Paramount, is set to settle over a $10 billion lawsuit that Trump had filed against 60 Minutes.

[Luke Rosiak]

He.

[Caroline Levitt]

He claims that during the election, the network deceptively edited its interview with Kamala Harris in order to help her campaign. And you're hearing a lot of legacy media figures upset about this, like Jake Tapper at cnn.

[Megan Basham]

For Paramount to settle this suit would be hoisting a white flag of surrender.

[Georgia Howe]

It would be the network of Edward R. Murrow, at the behest of its.

[Megan Basham]

Owners, saying, we will not speak truth to power. We will acquiesce to power at the expense of truth.

[Caroline Levitt]

So I think it's very likely that we could see additional changes from other federal agencies as Trump's cabinet continues to take shape.

[Cabot Phillips]

Well, it makes sense to have a diverse press corps that reaches all Americans. Megan, thanks for reporting.

[Caroline Levitt]

Anytime.

[Cabot Phillips]

A federal judge has temporarily barred the Department of Government Efficiency from tapping into the Treasury Department's data.

[John Bickley]

It's the latest in a series of injunctions and delays imposed by the courts as DOGE moves to reform government at a decidedly UN bureaucracy. Luke Rosiak is now the Daily Wire's government efficiency reporter, and he's out with a wild story on how we got here. Hey, Luke. So what have you found so far?

[Luke Rosiak]

Hey, John. So the first lawsuits against Doge by government employee unions were filed literally the day of Trump's inauguration, saying an outside advisory panel would be illegal. That's when they got their first big surprise. DOGE wasn't an outside panel. It was repurposing an existing White House office set up by Barack Obama.

[John Bickley]

Now, you're referring to the US Digital Service, which was renamed the US DOGE service. So what is that exactly?

[Luke Rosiak]

Well, in 2014, after Obama's healthcare.gov failed, he created this technology SWAT team based within the White House. It was exempted from ordinary government hiring rules in order to attract Silicon Valley types or short stints aimed at fixing government. It was run by a political appointee, and it hired a lot of Democrat activist types. After Trump won in 2016, USDS convinced him that it should be a nonpartisan office. And Trump agreed to basically treat them like civil servants, even though they were literally within his executive office of the President. He basically left them alone to do their jobs. But the staff exploited that kindness and turned it into a weakness. A pronoun using DNC donor was put in charge, and USDS became a hotbed of radical far left activism operating from within Trump's White House. They hired multiple people who were actually from the pornography industry. They had an entire panel of queer employees speak at A DEI conference.

[John Bickley]

This was within the executive office of the President during Trump's first term.

[Luke Rosiak]

Yeah, the whole thing was basically an open rebellion and staff would slow walk or undermine any projects they didn't like. And then Biden takes over. And does Trump get any credit for exercising restraint? No. Biden immediately turned it back into an office that was overtly run by a political appointee. So Obama basically built this machine with exactly the power Doge needed. And then during the Trump administration, there was this over the top betrayal that ensured that in a second term, Trump wasn't going to be so deferential to this idea of a supposedly nonpartisan civil service. So when Biden increased political control over the office, it was basically loading the weapon and giving it to Elon Musk.

[John Bickley]

And then here we are now. But Democrats created this structure. They also ran it in an openly partisan way. Here we have Musk using it against them effectively.

[Luke Rosiak]

Yeah. Here's the crazy thing. Elon's hires are a small staff working out of a separate building right now, but the 200 odd staff inherited from Biden administration is actually still there at uscs. On Friday, I was at the White House and as I was leaving, I saw this poster in the window of a White House annex building that said, hate has no home here. And so I did this double take standing in the middle of the road because this was clearly a left wing poster taunting Trump displayed in a government building within the White House's Secret Service perimeter. I looked at the address and wouldn't you know it, this was USDS headquarters. So that kind of removed any doubt that this was never some sort of neutral civil service group.

[John Bickley]

Yeah, and I wanted to point out Elon Musk did respond to your story on X saying, live by the sword, die by the sword. Seems like if Trump is more heavy handed this time around, it's kind of this lesson from the last eight years that's likely to blame. Luke, thanks so much for reporting.

[Luke Rosiak]

Sure thing.

[Cabot Phillips]

Thanks for waking up with us. And if you enjoyed what you listened to, please share this episode with a friend.