Morning Wire Episode Summary: Trump-Zelensky Feud & MAHA’s Industry Impact | 02.20.25

Release Date: February 20, 2025

Hosts:

• John Bickley – Editor-in-Chief, The Daily Wire
• Georgia Howe – Co-host

1. Trump-Zelensky Feud Over Ukraine Peace Negotiations

Escalating Tensions: The episode opens with Georgia Howe highlighting the intensifying feud between President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky amid ongoing peace negotiations.

• [00:03] Georgia Howe: "Tensions escalate as President Trump and Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky, feud over peace negotiations."

Trump’s Accusations: John Bickley gives insight into Trump’s critical stance towards Zelensky, suggesting that a different approach could have spared lives and land.

• [00:09] John Bickley: "I could have made a deal for Ukraine that would have given him almost all of the land and no people would have been killed. But they chose not to do it that way."

Economic Deal Proposals: Tim Rice queries the factors driving the rift between the leaders and the implications of Trump’s proposed economic deal.

• [00:18] Tim Rice: "What's driving the wedge between the two leaders? And how will Trump's new economic deal play into the talks?"

Detailed Timeline and Clashes: Cabot Phillips, Daily Wire Senior Editor, provides a comprehensive timeline of the feud, detailing Trump’s exclusion of Ukraine from initial peace talks and Zelensky’s subsequent outrage.

• [02:01] Cabot Phillips: "Donald Trump is not the biggest fan of Zelensky... Zelensky expressed outrage, saying he would not accept any deal unless he had a seat at the table."

Notable Quotes:

• Zelensky on Trump’s Claims:

  • [02:45] Cabot Phillips: "Zelensky accused Donald Trump of spreading Russian propaganda and, quote, living in a disinformation space."

• Trump's Retaliation on Truth Social:

  • [02:49] Cabot Phillips: "Trump lit into Zelensky... 'Zelensky talked the United States of America into spending $350 billion to go into a war that couldn't be won...'"

Political Repercussions: The feud has stirred reactions across the political spectrum. Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, condemned Trump’s remarks, while some Republicans began to push back.

• [04:20] Amanda Presta Giacomo (Ad Segment): (Skipped as per instructions)

Trump’s Economic Deal for Ukraine: Trump unveils a new economic proposal aiming for long-term benefits from Ukraine’s natural resources.

• [04:50] Cabot Phillips: "Trump is proposing access to Ukrainian ports, oil and gas reserves, and minerals post-war... '50% of recurring revenues on those resources...'"

Zelensky’s Response: Zelensky firmly opposes Trump's economic conditions, emphasizing national sovereignty.

• [05:37] Georgia Howe: "Well, and amazing if half of it really is unaccounted for."

2. Confirmation of Lori Chavez Darimer as Labor Department Secretary

Hearing Overview: Trump’s nominee for Labor Secretary, Lori Chavez Darimer, successfully navigated her confirmation hearing despite Republican skepticism regarding her past affiliations with labor unions.

• [06:21] Georgia Howe: "Trump's choice to lead the Labor Department testified before the Senate yesterday, and the hearing went surprisingly well."

Republican Concerns: Republicans criticized Chavez Darimer’s pro-union stance, particularly her support for the PRO Act, which they argue would undermine right-to-work laws.

• [07:32] John Bickley: "The PRO Act was about overturning right to work laws in 26 states... Do you still support the PRO Act or don't you support the PRO Act?"

Chavez Darimer’s Assurance: She clarified her position, distancing herself from the provisions that conflicted with state laws.

• [08:24] Lori Chavez Darimer: "Yeah, there were so many parts... Yes."

Shift in Support: Her reassurances satisfied some Republicans, including Rand Paul, who reconsidered his initial opposition.

• [08:33] Tim Rice: "So a pretty big turnaround there."

Additional Republican Scrutiny: Senator Tommy Tuberville questioned her stance on abortion, referencing her past employment with Planned Parenthood.

• [08:39] Lori Chavez Darimer: "I have a 100% pro-life voting record in Congress and would continue to support the America first agenda."

Democratic Opposition: Democrats focused on Chavez Darimer’s unfamiliarity with efforts to limit access to Labor Department data and leadership.

• [09:02] Tim Rice: "Chris Murphy asked her to pledge that she would deny Elon Musk and his team access to the Labor Department."

Future Confirmations: The episode briefly touches on upcoming confirmations, including Kelly Loeffler for the Small Business Administration and Cash Patel for the FBI.

3. Impact of the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission

Commission’s Mission: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., heading the MAHA Commission, aims to address rising chronic disease rates, particularly among children, by targeting processed foods.

• [10:10] Georgia Howe: "The Maja Commission aims to address the spike in chronic disease rates specifically for children, and they're focusing on processed food."

Industry Reactions: The food industry is proactively modifying products to comply with anticipated stricter standards, albeit at the cost of increased prices.

• [10:26] Dirk Vandeput: "Food and beverage brands will proactively start to remove artificial flavors and preservatives... Consumers will see price hikes."

Notable Corporate Changes: Major brands like Steak N Shake, Sweet Green, Blue Collar Restaurant Group, and Mondelez International are adjusting their recipes to meet new health standards.

• [11:45] Georgia Howe: "We can expect a fight over seed oil, as it sounds like now."

Government Programs Overhaul: The Commission plans to reform SNAP and federally subsidized school lunches to ensure better nutritional standards.

• [11:53] Dirk Vandeput: "Trump's Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rawlings said she will work with RFK to reform those benefits."

Chronic Health Crisis Highlighted: RFK underscores the severity of America’s health issues, citing alarming statistics on chronic diseases and their impact on different demographics.

• [12:23] Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: "Six out of every 10 adults have at least one chronic disease... Autism now affects one in every 36 kids."

Institutional Trust and Transparency: Kennedy emphasizes the need to rebuild public trust through transparency and addressing root causes of health issues rather than merely treating symptoms.

• [13:17] Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: "Our goal is to earn back the public's trust and accomplish that through transparency."

Conclusion

The episode of Morning Wire delivered a comprehensive analysis of two significant political developments: the escalating feud between President Trump and President Zelensky over Ukraine peace negotiations and the confirmation of Lori Chavez Darimer as Labor Secretary amidst contentious debates. Additionally, the impact of the Make America Healthy Again Commission, led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., on the food industry and public health policies was thoroughly examined. The discussions shed light on the intricate interplay between politics, economic strategies, and public health initiatives shaping the current American landscape.

Notable Quotes:

• John Bickley [00:09]: "I could have made a deal for Ukraine that would have given him almost all of the land and no people would have been killed. But they chose not to do it that way."

• Cabot Phillips [02:49]: "Zelensky talked the United States of America into spending $350 billion to go into a war that couldn't be won, that never had to start..."

• Lori Chavez Darimer [08:24]: "Yeah, there were so many parts... Yes."

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. [12:23]: "Six out of every 10 adults have at least one chronic disease... Autism now affects one in every 36 kids."

This summary encapsulates the critical discussions and insights from the Morning Wire episode, structured to provide clarity and depth for listeners and non-listeners alike.