Morning Wire Podcast Summary
Episode: Trump’s NATO Win & Senate Debates OBBB | 6.26.25
Release Date: June 26, 2025
Host: John Bickley & Co-host: Georgia Howe
Presented by The Daily Wire

1. President Trump Secures Major NATO Funding Commitment

Overview:
In a significant foreign policy triumph, President Donald Trump successfully pressured NATO allies into committing to a substantial increase in their defense spending. This achievement marks a pivotal shift in the United States' role within the alliance and addresses longstanding concerns about the disproportionate financial burden shouldered by the U.S.

Key Points:

• Defense Spending Increase:

  • Georgia Howe opens the discussion by highlighting Trump's success in persuading NATO allies to commit to increasing their defense budgets. (00:04)
  • John Bickley emphasizes the commitment from NATO members to raise their defense spending to 5% of GDP, a target previously deemed unattainable. (00:10)
  • Donald Trump elaborates on his criticism of NATO, asserting that the U.S. was previously overburdened. He states, "President Trump was still taking a sort of victory lap following his successful strikes on Iran and the subsequent ceasefire. And on Wednesday, he scored yet another feather in his foreign policy cap." (02:21)

• Historical Context and Impact:

  • Trump points out that the United States had been financing more than two-thirds of NATO's defense budget, a disparity he sought to correct. (03:24)
  • NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledges the shift, stating, "For too long, one ally, the United States, carried too much of the burden of that commitment. And that changes today." (03:35)
  • The collective decision by all 32 NATO members to invest over $1 trillion in defense by 2035 signifies a monumental reallocation of resources and a more equitable distribution of financial responsibilities within the alliance. (02:21)

• Commitment to Article 5:

  • In a pivotal move, Trump reaffirms the U.S. commitment to Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which stipulates that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all members. He remarks, "If I didn't stand with it, I wouldn't be here now." (04:34)

• Spain’s Resistance:

  • Georgia Howe inquires about resistance from any member countries. Trump identifies Spain as the lone dissenting nation, where the Prime Minister declared the 5% commitment "unacceptable" and opted instead for a modest increase from 1.2% to 2% of GDP. (04:37)
  • John Bickley voices strong disapproval of Spain's stance, stating, "They're the only country that won't pay the full up. They want to stay at 2%. I think it's terrible." (05:06)

• Iran and Israel Conflict:

  • The summit also addressed the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel. Trump discusses his recent military actions against Iran, asserting, "their nuclear program was, quote, completely and fully obliterated." (05:29)
  • He announces upcoming meetings with Iranian officials aimed at preventing future nuclear weapon pursuits, highlighting a potential de-escalation in the region. (05:55)

2. Senate Debates on the "One Big, Beautiful Bill"

Overview:
The podcast delves into the impending Senate vote on the GOP-majority-backed bill, dubbed the "one big, beautiful bill." This legislation, a signature initiative of President Trump, aims to stimulate economic growth but faces opposition from within the Republican ranks, particularly concerning fiscal responsibility.

Key Points:

• Senate Vote and Republican Divisions:

  • Cabot Phillips introduces the topic by mentioning the Senate's upcoming vote on the bill and the potential for a GOP majority to secure a victory for President Trump. (00:30)
  • Georgia Howe highlights Kentucky Senator Rand Paul's objections to the bill, citing concerns over raising the debt ceiling and the proposed $5 trillion expansion of the credit line. (07:06)

• Economic Arguments and Defense of the Bill:

  • Cabot Phillips brings in Stephen Myron, Chairman of the nonpartisan Council of Economic Advisors, to discuss the bill's implications. (07:29)
  • Stephen Myron argues that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) overlooks the bill’s potential to stimulate economic growth, which in turn would increase tax revenues and reduce the deficit. He states, "CBO just ignores growth altogether. CBO is also ignoring in its score tariff revenue." (09:52)
  • He elaborates on various mechanisms within the bill designed to foster economic expansion, including incentives for business investments, full expensing of factories and equipment, and support for research and development. These measures are projected to generate significant revenue and savings, aiming for an $8.5 to $11 trillion reduction in deficits over a decade. (08:40)

• Defending Against CBO’s Critique:

  • Myron contends that the CBO's analysis fails to account for the holistic benefits of the bill, particularly the anticipated economic growth and increased tariff revenues, which he believes will offset the projected deficits. (09:52)

• Impact on American Workers:

  • Cabot Phillips inquires about the bill's benefits for the average American. Myron responds by emphasizing that economic growth will lead to job creation, higher wages, and a booming economy, thereby directly benefiting workers. He asserts, "The number one best way to help the average American is to create an environment in which the economy is booming and therefore firms want to hire them." (10:26)

• Conclusion of the Debate:

  • As the discussion wraps up, Cabot Phillips acknowledges the substantial arguments presented by Myron and comments on the potential for the GOP to secure the necessary votes to pass the bill. (07:17 - 11:07)

3. Whistleblower Allegations Against Santa Clara University’s Psychology Program

Overview:
The podcast shifts focus to an investigative report on Naomi Epps Best, a California psychology student who alleges systemic ideological bias and unethical practices within her graduate counseling program at Santa Clara University. Her claims spotlight concerns about academic freedom and the integrity of psychological training programs.

Key Points:

• Allegations by Naomi Epps Best:

  • Georgia Howe introduces the story, mentioning Best’s whistleblower role regarding her graduate counseling program’s problematic practices. (07:07)
  • Mark Rutte conducts an in-depth interview with Best, who accuses Santa Clara University of embedding sexually explicit and ideologically driven content into its curriculum. (11:21 - 15:14)
  • Best describes her experiences in a human sexuality class, where she was required to write an extensive sexual autobiography and was exposed to disturbing BDSM-related materials. She states, "I immediately discovered in the syllabus Sadomasochistic Erotica, a crassly written pornographic illustration guide." (11:59)

• Institutional Response and Attempts to Resolve:

  • Despite requesting accommodations to avoid the sexual autobiography requirement, Best was denied and faced institutional indifference. She escalated her complaints through various administrative levels, including the professor, department chair, dean, provost, president, Title IX office, campus ministry, and ombudsman, all to no avail. (12:00 - 12:37)
  • When re-enrolling, Best hoped to take the class remotely but instead encountered further inappropriate requirements, such as anonymously expressing dislikes about her own body parts and being exposed to bondage videos without proper clinical framing. (12:37 - 13:39)

• Ethical Concerns Raised:

  • Best criticizes the level of personal sexual disclosure expected from both students and guest speakers, deeming it unethical for professional training environments. She asserts, "The manner in which this material was presented was promotional." (13:39 - 14:09)
  • Her official Title IX complaint, alleging quid pro quo sexual harassment, was ultimately dismissed by the university, prompting her to publicly speak out against the program's practices. (14:04 - 14:21)

• University’s Response:

  • Santa Clara University defends its curriculum, stating that the human sexuality class has maintained similar teaching approaches since the mid-1990s. They dispute Best’s characterization, claiming that those present in the classes disagree with her assertions. (14:41 - 14:54)

• Broader Implications:

  • Best argues that psychology and counseling education have been ideologically captured, promoting a singular worldview grounded in critical theory. She calls for greater diversity of perspectives and tolerance for traditional and religious viewpoints within the therapeutic profession. (14:41 - 15:14)

• Host’s Commentary:

  • Georgia Howe remarks, "Well, it's hard to shock me at this point, but this did Mairead thanks for reporting," underscoring the gravity and surprising nature of the allegations. (15:14 - 15:18)

Conclusion

In this episode of Morning Wire, listeners are presented with a comprehensive overview of President Trump’s diplomatic achievements within NATO, the contentious debates surrounding the GOP's pivotal economic legislation, and a critical investigation into alleged unethical practices in a California university's psychology program. Through in-depth discussions, expert interviews, and firsthand accounts, John Bickley and Georgia Howe deliver an engaging and informative analysis of the day's pressing issues.

Notable Quotes:

• Donald Trump (02:21): "For years, Trump has been a vocal critic of NATO, saying the US is being taken advantage of by our allies there who spend far less money than we do on defense for the alliance."

• John Bickley (03:24): "This week, the NATO allies committed to dramatically increase their defense spending to that 5% of GDP, something that no one really thought possible. And they said, you did it, sir, you did it."

• Kentucky Senator Rand Paul (07:06): "I'm not for raising the debt ceiling $5 trillion. I think that's a mistake to have such a large expansion of the credit line to a Congress that has shown disregard for fiscal responsibility."

• Stephen Myron (08:40): "We're cutting red tape everywhere we can. There's also lots of revenues from tariffs, right? We'll get about $3 trillion of revenue from tariffs over the next decade."

• Naomi Epps Best (11:59): "I immediately discovered in the syllabus Sadomasochistic Erotica, a crassly written pornographic illustration guide."

This detailed summary encapsulates the episode's key discussions, providing listeners with a clear understanding of the topics covered and the perspectives presented.