Morning Wire Podcast Summary: "Trump’s First Month & Social Security Whistleblower | 2.21.25"

Release Date: February 21, 2025

Hosts:

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

Contributors:

• Cabot Phillips – Senior Editor, The Daily Wire
• Mike Waltz – National Security Adviser, White House
• Ash Shorthey – Senior Editor, The Daily Wire
• Luke Rosiak – Government Efficiency Reporter, The Daily Wire

1. President Trump's First 30 Days in Office

Overview: President Donald Trump's inaugural month has been characterized by an unprecedented pace of executive actions aiming to reshape federal policies across various sectors. Hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe highlight the breadth of Trump's initiatives, emphasizing deregulation, border security, and the rollback of what they describe as divisive government practices.

Key Actions:

• Executive Orders: Trump has signed numerous executive orders to eliminate burdensome regulations, seal the border, remove Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies from federal institutions, and promote an "America First" approach in trade and foreign policies.

  Georgia Howe [00:09]: "These executive orders have ended burdensome regulations, sealed the border, eliminated divisive DEI from our federal government, stopped the weaponization of government, cut waste, fraud and abuse, reinstituted America first trade and foreign policies, and ultimately restored common sense."

• Cabinet Confirmations: The administration has confirmed 19 cabinet members in just over a month, marking the fastest pace since a previous Trump term.

  Mike Waltz [02:04]: "In his first 30 days, Trump reversed Biden era immigration policy, reset foreign relationships with adversaries and allies, and signed more executive orders than any president in the last century signed in their first hundred days."

Public and Political Reaction:

• Polling Data: Rasmussen polling indicates a significant increase in public approval of Trump's actions, with 47% of Americans feeling that "America is on the right track," a 19% rise since September and the highest in 20 years.

  Mike Waltz [03:39]: "Americans seem optimistic about Trump's early moves. Rasmussen polling found that 47% of the country feels America is on the right track."

Focus on Immigration:

• Border Security: Under Trump’s administration, detentions of illegal immigrants have plummeted by 93% in the first ten days and by 85% overall along the southwest border.

  Mike Waltz [04:12]: "According to the latest numbers, the number of illegal immigrants detained at ports of entry declined by 93% during Trump's first 10 days in office..."

• Funding Cuts: Trump has signed measures to restrict federal funding for benefits to illegal immigrants, aiming to ensure that taxpayer resources protect American citizens.

  Mike Waltz [04:46]: "This week, Trump signed a measure that will restrict any federal dollars from going towards benefits for those living in the country illegally."

2. Social Security Whistleblower Incident

Overview: A significant development within the Social Security Administration (SSA) centers around whistleblower Leland Dudek, whose actions have led to his rapid promotion amid broader efforts to combat fraud, waste, and abuse within the agency.

Incident Details:

• Whistleblower Actions: Dudek, a mid-level manager at SSA, was initially placed on leave for cooperating with investigations led by Dogecoin-linked entity Doge. He exposed internal issues by sharing accessible documents and reallocating resources to strengthen the anti-fraud team.

  Luke Rosiak [07:57]: "They want to fire me for cooperating with Doge... I moved contractor money around to add data science resources to my anti fraud team."

• Reversal of Fortunes: Contrary to his initial suspension, Dudek was promoted to Acting Commissioner of SSA following the dismissal of the previous head, Michelle King.

  John Bickley [08:37]: "And Doge's Elon Musk actually shared your story on X. He said, 'There are good people in the government who want to eliminate fraud and waste...'"

Implications for SSA:

• Leadership Changes: With Michelle King removed, Dudek steps in as the temporary leader until Trump's nominee is confirmed by the Senate.

  Luke Rosiak [09:14]: "Now, King reportedly tried to block Doge from accessing the agency's data. Now Dudak will leap up the ranks to be acting commissioner until the Senate confirms Trump's nominee."

• Data Management Issues: Musk highlighted critical flaws in SSA’s data systems, revealing that millions of records show individuals over 100 years old who are not marked as deceased, exposing vulnerabilities in outdated COBOL-based systems.

  Luke Rosiak [10:00]: "Some claimed Musk just didn't understand the way that dates are stored in the COBOL programming language... It highlighted that some of the most important financial systems in the US government are running on a 1960s programming language."

Doge's Impact:

• Financial Cuts: Doge.gov reports a significant reduction of $55 billion, with ongoing monitoring expected to track further fiscal changes.

  John Bickley [10:37]: "Doge.gov online ticker says it's cut $55 billion so far."

3. Social Security Administration's Fight Against Fraud

Overview: The SSA, under renewed leadership, is intensifying efforts to root out fraud and inefficiencies, positioning itself as a model for government accountability.

Key Points:

• Eliminating Fraud: Dudek’s appointment underscores a strategic pivot towards stringent anti-fraud measures within SSA, aligning with the administration's broader goals of government reform.

  Luke Rosiak [07:38]: "They are out there, people who want to do the right thing and work for the federal government and they're actually the ones who know where the bodies are buried right now."

4. California Home Insurance Crisis vs. Florida's Recovery

Overview: The podcast delves into the contrasting insurance landscapes of California and Florida, attributing the disparities to differing state policies and regulatory approaches.

California's Crisis:

• Insurance Struggles: California, grappling with widespread wildfires, faces a looming home insurance crisis. Insurers like State Farm have been denied requested rate increases, leading to significant financial losses.

  Ash Shorthey [11:11]: "State Farm, the largest fire insurer in California, recently asked state regulators for a 22% rate increase, but was denied by California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara..."

• Market Implications: Persistent denial of rate hikes has resulted in insurers facing multibillion-dollar losses, risking insolvency and reducing options for homeowners.

  Ash Shorthey [12:07]: "Without State Farm, many in California will then be forced to buy insurance through California's insurer of last resort, which is close to becoming insolvent."

Florida's Success:

• Regulatory Reforms: Governor Ron DeSantis implemented litigation reforms that stabilized Florida’s insurance market post-hurricanes, encouraging insurer participation and reducing premiums.

  Ash Shorthey [13:26]: "Much better and continuing to improve. Back in 2022 and 2023, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis implemented numerous litigation reforms that kept Florida from its own insurance disaster."

• Market Growth: The removal of lawsuit abuses has attracted new insurers and prompted existing ones to lower rates, contrasting sharply with California's stagnation.

  Ash Shorthey [13:26]: "Now that the lawsuit abuse is down, 11 new insurers have entered the market and some carriers are asking for rate decreases."

Impact on Residents:

• Rebuilding Challenges in California: Ongoing fires and regulatory hurdles leave many Californians uncertain about their ability to rebuild, exacerbating the personal toll of natural disasters.

  Ash Shorthey [14:18]: "Many residents know they won't be able to rebuild. Some say it's because they probably won't receive enough from insurance to rebuild..."

5. Conclusion and Looking Forward

The episode wraps up with an emphasis on the transformative actions taken by President Trump in his first month, highlighting both the immediate impacts on federal policies and the broader implications for government efficiency and accountability. The contrasting situations in California and Florida serve as case studies for the effectiveness of state-level regulatory reforms in addressing complex issues like natural disasters and insurance markets.

Final Remarks:

• John Bickley: Encourages listeners to share the episode, underscoring the importance of staying informed through Morning Wire for reliable news coverage.

  John Bickley [14:45]: "If you enjoyed what you heard this morning, share this episode with a friend."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Georgia Howe [00:09]: "These executive orders have ended burdensome regulations, sealed the border, eliminated divisive DEI from our federal government, stopped the weaponization of government, cut waste, fraud and abuse, reinstituted America first trade and foreign policies, and ultimately restored common sense."

• Mike Waltz [02:04]: "In his first 30 days, Trump reversed Biden era immigration policy, reset foreign relationships with adversaries and allies, and signed more executive orders than any president in the last century signed in their first hundred days."

• Mike Waltz [03:39]: "Americans seem optimistic about Trump's early moves. Rasmussen polling found that 47% of the country feels America is on the right track."

• Mike Waltz [04:12]: "According to the latest numbers, the number of illegal immigrants detained at ports of entry declined by 93% during Trump's first 10 days in office..."

• Luke Rosiak [07:57]: "They want to fire me for cooperating with Doge... I moved contractor money around to add data science resources to my anti fraud team."

• Luke Rosiak [10:00]: "Some claimed Musk just didn't understand the way that dates are stored in the COBOL programming language... It highlighted that some of the most important financial systems in the US government are running on a 1960s programming language."

• Ash Shorthey [11:11]: "State Farm, the largest fire insurer in California, recently asked state regulators for a 22% rate increase, but was denied by California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara..."

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the "Morning Wire" episode, providing listeners with a clear understanding of President Trump's initial policy moves, significant internal developments within the Social Security Administration, and the divergent insurance market responses in California and Florida.