Trump’s Reciprocal Tariffs & RFK Sworn In | 2.14.25

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary Episode: Trump’s Reciprocal Tariffs & RFK Sworn In | 2.14.25
Release Date: February 14, 2025
Host: John Bickley & Co-Host: Georgia Howe

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1. Introduction to the Episode

In this episode of Morning Wire, hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe delve into significant developments in U.S. politics and policy. The discussion centers around President Donald Trump's latest trade strategy, the confirmation of high-profile cabinet members, and the Department of Justice's legal actions against the state of New York concerning immigration enforcement.

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2. President Trump's Reciprocal Tariffs

Announcement and Policy Shift
At [00:03], John Bickley introduces President Trump's substantial change in U.S. trade policy. Trump announced that the United States will implement reciprocal tariffs, matching the tariffs other countries impose on American imports.

Trump’s Statement
At [00:10], President Trump elaborates:

“In other words, they charge us a tax or tariff and we charge them the exact same tax or tariff.”

Detailed Explanation
Senior editor Cabot Phillips provides an in-depth analysis at [02:03]. He explains that the new tariffs are customized per country and are a response to existing tariff imbalances. For instance, the U.S. imposes a 2.5% tariff on ethanol imports, while Brazil charges the U.S. 18% on the same. Similarly, U.S. tariffs on cars are 2.5%, compared to the European Union's 10%.

Rationale Behind the Policy
Phillips continues at [03:51], highlighting several motivations for this shift:

• Revenue Generation: Increased tariffs will boost tax revenue and help reduce the federal deficit.
• Manufacturing Reinsourcing: Encourages other countries to lower their tariffs or relocate manufacturing to the U.S.
• Shift from Free Trade: This marks a departure from decades-long Republican support for free trade, addressing issues like companies moving overseas for cheaper labor.

International Relations Impact
The new policy coincided with Trump's meetings with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at [04:39]. The relationship, previously tense due to high Indian tariffs (14%, six times the U.S. rate), remained cordial. Post-meeting, Modi praised Trump:

“We missed you a lot.” ([05:48])

Trump countered by announcing significant military sales to India, including the F35 stealth fighters, underscoring a strategic partnership in the Indo-Pacific region.

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3. Confirmation of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS Secretary

Nomination and Confirmation
At [00:44], John Bickley announces RFK Jr.'s confirmation as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Reporter Amanda Presto Giacomo elaborates at [07:03]:

• Senate Vote: RFK Jr. secured 52 yes votes, primarily along party lines with Republican Mitch McConnell dissenting.
• McConnell’s Opposition: Citing RFK’s stance on vaccinations and his polio survival, McConnell highlighted internal GOP pushback against Trump's nominees.

Significance of the Confirmation
RFK Jr.'s confirmation is notable as no Democrats voted in favor. His endorsement of Trump after withdrawing from the presidential race and criticism of the Democratic Party played a crucial role in securing Republican support.

RFK Jr.'s Impact
His appointment is expected to attract disaffected Democrats to the administration, further solidifying Trump’s anti-establishment cabinet.

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4. Confirmation of Tulsi Gabbard

Nomination and Challenges
Tulsi Gabbard's confirmation was addressed at [07:03]. Gabbard, a former Democrat, overcame skepticism due to her past support for Edward Snowden and interactions with Bashar al-Assad.

Senate Vote
At [08:34], Tim Pierce notes that Gabbard also received 52 yes votes, all Republicans except McConnell, reflecting a similar partisan split as RFK Jr.'s confirmation.

Expectation and Outlook
Gabbard’s swift confirmation adds to the administration's portfolio of high-profile, non-traditional nominees, indicating a continued shift away from conventional party lines.

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5. Additional Cabinet Confirmations

Linda McMahon and cash Patel
John Bickley discusses further confirmations at [06:52].

• Linda McMahon: Nominee to lead the Department of Education, faced a heated Senate Education Committee hearing ([09:08]). Despite President Trump's calls to close the Department, McMahon emphasized her support for returning education control to states without defunding federal programs.

• cash Patel: Confirmed to lead the FBI after a 12-10 party-line vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee ([09:30]). His confirmation paves the way for his full Senate consideration.

Overall Cabinet Outlook
With confirmations of RFK Jr., Tulsi Gabbard, McMahon, and Patel, the Trump administration boasts a notably anti-establishment cabinet, reflective of a broader Republican pivot in policy and ideology.

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6. DOJ’s Legal Action Against New York

Lawsuit Details
At [10:26], Amanda Presto Giacomo reports on the Department of Justice's lawsuit against New York State for its "green light law." Legal expert Pam Bondi explains at [10:49]:

• Allegations: Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, and DMV head Mark Schroeder are accused of undermining federal immigration laws by allowing illegal aliens to obtain driver's licenses and restricting DMV data sharing with ICE.

• Government’s Stance: The DOJ claims the law impedes federal immigration enforcement and prioritizes illegal aliens over American citizens.

New York’s Response
Governor Hochul and Attorney General James dismissed the lawsuit as politically motivated and reaffirmed the legality and resilience of the green light law ([11:53]).

Implications for Immigration Policy
This legal confrontation underscores the ongoing tension between federal and state approaches to immigration enforcement, highlighting the Trump administration’s aggressive stance on deportations.

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7. ICE Deportation Efforts and Leaks

Challenges in Deportations
At [12:15], John Bickley introduces the topic of ICE's deportation operations being hindered by leaks. Pam Bondi details:

• Impact of Leaks: Information leaks to the media have reduced the effectiveness of ICE raids in cities like Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles, leading to fewer arrests than the Trump administration's ambitious goals.

• Daily Targets: The administration aims to deport up to a million people in the first year, requiring a daily average of over 2,700 arrests, a target far exceeding current operations.

Administration’s Response to Leaks
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and others have pointed fingers at the FBI for the leaks:

• Noem’s Statement:

  “The FBI is so corrupt, we will work with any and every agency to stop leaks and prosecute these crooked deep state agents to the fullest extent of the law.” ([13:10])

• Trump’s Comment:

  “They’ve opened up a criminal investigation and they have promised that not only this person lose their job and lose their pension, they're going to go to jail.” ([13:50])

Consequences and Public Sentiment
Kristi Noem emphasized the administration's commitment to prosecuting leakers, stating at [13:55]:

“If anyone leaks anything people don't understand that jeopardizes the lives of our great men and women in law enforcement... It’s not going to stop our mission.”

Public Approval
Polling indicates a majority support President Trump's deportation plans, suggesting public backing for the administration’s stringent immigration policies despite internal challenges.

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8. Conclusion

In this episode, Morning Wire provides a comprehensive overview of President Trump's pivotal policy shifts and cabinet confirmations, highlighting a significant realignment in U.S. trade and immigration strategies. The administration's actions reflect a broader move away from traditional free trade and establishment politics, aiming to resonate with disillusioned voters and address national priorities. The DOJ's legal battles with New York and ICE's deportation challenges illustrate the complex interplay between federal objectives and state-level resistance, underscoring the contentious landscape of current U.S. politics.

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For more detailed discussions and updates, listen to the full episode of Morning Wire on February 14, 2025.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

President Trump announces a massive shift to US Trade policy with plans to match what other countries charge the US on imports.

[Donald Trump]

In other words, they charge us a tax or tariff and we charge them the exact same tax or tariff.

[John Bickley]

I'm Daily Wire editor in chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Friday, February 14th, and this is Morning Wire.

[Donald Trump]

For 20 years, I've gotten up every morning on my knees and prayed that.

[Pam Bondi]

God would put me in a position.

[Donald Trump]

Where I can end the childhood chronic disease epidemic in this country. On August 23rd, God sent me. President Trump.

[John Bickley]

RFK Jr. Is sworn in as the Secretary of Health and Human Services, becoming Trump's latest pick to cross the finish line. Where do the other nominees stand?

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

And the Trump DOJ files charges against the state of New York and its governor for sabotaging ICE efforts to deport illegal immigrants.

[Kristi Noem]

Violent criminals, gang members, drug traffickers, human smugglers will no longer terrorize the American people. And that is why we are here today.

[John Bickley]

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

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[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

On Thursday, President Trump laid out his plans for new reciprocal tariffs that will match rates other countries currently charge the.

[John Bickley]

US Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips is here to break down the latest salvo in this brewing trade war. Hey, Cabot. So, as promised, Trump rolling out more tariffs yesterday. And he definitely delivered. What did we see from the White House?

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah, the president posted early yesterday on Truth Social, quote, three great weeks, perhaps the best ever. But today is the big one, reciprocal tariffs. And he was not kidding. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump announced that the US Would be revolutionizing our trade policy, implementing customized tariffs for each country we trade with. That'll be based on the rate they charge us. Thus the word reciprocal. And if other countries don't want to lower their tariffs on American goods, Trump says they can bring manufacturing here to the US to avoid them. Here he is elaborating on that decision.

[Donald Trump]

I have decided for purposes of fairness, that I will charge a reciprocal tariff, meaning whatever countries charge the United States of America, we will charge them. In almost all cases, they're charging us vastly more than we charge them. But those days are over.

[Cabot Phillips]

And to his point, the White House released a memo with examples of tariff imbalances from around the world. For example, US tariffs on ethanol imports are 2.5%, but Brazil charges the US 18%. Our tariffs on imported cars are 2.5%, but the European Union charges us 10%. The list goes on. The Trump administration says that on two thirds of all goods, the United States faces higher tariffs than we charge others. And it's worth noting these tariffs will not go into effect immediately. And that's intentional. Trump is essentially trying to give other countries time to lower their own tariffs and negotiate with the US Similar to what we saw with Canada and Mexico last week.

[John Bickley]

So he's giving them a little Runway here before raising costs. What is his rationale for shifting to this particular approach now?

[Cabot Phillips]

Well, there are a few reasons. First, he says the tariffs will increase tax revenue and help offset the federal deficit, cutting into the national debt. It's important to remember the US has relatively low tariff rates on imports coming into the country. Right now, it's around 2% for industrial goods. That's basically everything except food. And if you zoom out, about half of all imports face no tariffs. Now, for decades, Republicans embraced a free trade approach and said that was a good thing because it kept prices low for consumers and encouraged other countries to take part in our economy. But President Trump says those low tariffs have encouraged companies to move their manufacturing elsewhere in search of cheaper labor, while allowing the US to be taken advantage of. This move is, in many ways the culmination of a shift in Republican orthodoxy away from a free trade at all costs mindset.

[John Bickley]

Yeah, major shift in philosophy that's certainly been gaining momentum quickly under Trump. Now, this news all came as Trump sat for important meetings with India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Tariffs no doubt came up there. What took place there?

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah. The Trump administration views India as a vital partner in countering the rise of China. But the relationship could be strained with these new tariffs. In the past, Trump has referred to them as the, quote, tariff king and a, quote, very big abuser on trade. On average, goods entering India face a 14% tariff. That's one of the highest in the world and more than six times the US Rate. And because the Value of Indian exports to the US Is twice the amount they import. India could be hit harder than almost any other country by these tariffs. But Trump and Modi appeared to have a productive and friendly conversation. The two shared a giant bear hug in the White House before holding a public press conference where Modi praised Trump, saying, quote, we missed you a lot. Trump called him a, quote, great leader. The president reportedly urged Modi to lower tariffs on American imports and increase the amount of American products purchased by India. He specifically brought up energy and weapons in particular. Here's Trump after their meeting.

[Donald Trump]

Starting this year, we'll be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars. We're also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F35 stealth fighters. In our meeting today, the prime minister and I reaffirmed that strong cooperation among the United States, India, Australia and Japan. And it's crucial, really to maintaining peace and prosperity, tranquility even in the Indo Pacific.

[John Bickley]

Well, as we find ourselves saying a lot here, never a slow day with Trump 2.0. Kevin, thanks for keeping us up to speed.

[Cabot Phillips]

Anytime.

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[John Bickley]

President Trump picked up more key confirmations to his Cabinet this week, including two of the most high profile former Democrats, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. And Tulsi Gabbard.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Here with the details is Daily Wire reporter Amanda Presto Giacomo. So, Amanda, things are moving along very smoothly for Trump. Even some of his long shot picks are moving through. So let's start with rfk. He was confirmed yesterday. Tell us about that vote.

[Tim Pierce]

Right. RFK was confirmed as Health and Human Services Secretary with 52 yes votes in the Senate. The vote was basically along party lines, except Republican Mitch McConnell voted no for Kennedy. In a statement, McConnell cited RFK's position on vaccinations and he noted that he's a survivor of polio. McConnell has voted against Trump. Cabinet picks more than any other Republican a total of three times so far. Now this confirmation of RFK is really significant, especially given the fact that not a single Democrat voted yes. In August, Kennedy dropped out of the presidential race and really laid into the Democrat Party in a speech announcing his endorsement of President Trump Kennedy said that the Democrat Party disenfranchised voters and they used Democrat aligned judges to throw him off ballots and to try to throw Trump, another political opponent, in jail. He said that the party was unrecognizable. And he called Democrats the party of war, censorship, corruption, big pharma, big tech, big AG, and big money. As we followed here, Democrats flipped in that moment. And instead of using lawfare to keep RFK off presidential ballots, they worked to keep him on ballots in an effort to hurt Trump. Right.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Well, RFK brought over a lot of disaffected Democrats as well. Now, another notable confirmation pickup this week was Tulsi Gabbard. A lot of people thought she was a real long shot. How did she manage to get through?

[Tim Pierce]

Right. So out of all of Trump's nominees, aside from Matt Gaetz, who dropped out very early, Gabbard was seen to have perhaps the toughest road to confirmat. Gabbard was a former Democrat congresswoman and presidential candidate, and she faced a lot of scrutiny over her past comments supporting former NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden in a 2017 meeting she took with Syria's then president, Bashar al Assad. Like RFK, Gabbard picked up 52 yes votes in the Senate. Along party lines, she picked up all Republican senators except McConnell and zero Democrats.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Now, what nominees are still outstanding at this point?

[Tim Pierce]

So, Linda McMahon, who served in Trump's first administration, she's the president's nominee to lead the Department of. She appeared before the Senate Education Committee on Thursday, just one day after Trump publicly called for the Department of Education to be closed, calling it a, quote, complete con job. McMahon, who was repeatedly interrupted by protesters, she addressed those comments from Trump during the hearing.

[Donald Trump]

I am really all for the president's mission, which is to return education to the states. I believe, as he does, that the best education is closest to the child and not certain.

[John Bickley]

If the government is downsized, would the states and localities still receive the federal funding which they currently.

[Donald Trump]

Yes.

[Cabot Phillips]

Okay.

[Donald Trump]

It is not the President's goal to defund the programs. It is only to have it operate more efficiently.

[Tim Pierce]

If the committee approves McMahon, she'll proceed to a full Senate vote. And right now she is expected to be confirmed. There's also cash Patel to lead the FBI. Yesterday, he won the approval of the Senate Judiciary committee. In a 12 to 10 party line vote, the panel approved Patel's nomination. Next, Patel is headed to the Senate for consideration and he too is expected to be confirmed.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

Well, overall, a very anti establishment cabinet. It's going to be interesting to see how this term goes. Amanda, thanks for reporting.

[Tim Pierce]

You're welcome.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

The Department of Justice has filed charges against the state of New York and several top officials over its effort to protect illegal aliens from deportation.

[John Bickley]

Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce is here to talk about the legal action against New York. Tim? So another showdown in effect between Trump and New York. First, what exactly is the DOJ alleging against the state and these officials?

[Pam Bondi]

Hey, John. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the charges on Wednesday. The lawsuit names New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, and Mark Schroeder, the head of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. Here's Bondi.

[Kristi Noem]

This is a new doj, and we are taking steps to protect Americans, American citizens and angel moms like the mom standing right behind me, who you're going to hear from in a moment. New York has chosen to prioritize illegal aliens over American citizens. It stops. It stops today.

[Pam Bondi]

The lawsuit centers around New York's green light law that was signed in 2019. The law allows illegal aliens to buy cars and obtain driver's licenses. It also blocks the New York DMV from passing on most information on licensees to federal authorities. On top of that, the DMV notifies any licensee whose information is requested that covers any aliens information requested by ice. The Justice Department said the green light law was passed to directly impair the enforcement of federal immigration laws in New York.

[John Bickley]

We've heard responses from some New York officials. What are they saying?

[Pam Bondi]

Hochul put out a statement Wednesday night that called Bondi's announcement dramatic and smoke and mirrors. The governor said the law has already survived multiple legal challenges and does not expect a different outcome this time. For her part, James called the lawsuit an attempt to weaponize the Department of Justice to intimidate political opponents.

[John Bickley]

Now, the Trump administration has had some problems from within the federal government in deporting aliens related to leaks and other issues. What's the latest there? Right.

[Pam Bondi]

ICE has dealt with a constant stream of leaks to the media about its planned raids. Those leaks have either drastically cut the effectiveness of major operations or forced ICE to delay or cancel jobs. This has happened multiple times now in Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, and it's frustrating officials in the White House. Up till now, the biggest single day for ICE arrests has been 1100 people. And the average day is, of course, lower than that. If ICE aims to deport, say, a million people in the first year, the daily average would have to be over 2,700, according to recent reports. The current pace has Frustrated Trump and other top officials.

[John Bickley]

Right. They set out very ambitious goals on this. We've seen some competing claims about the leaks. Where does the administration think they're coming from?

[Pam Bondi]

Well, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem pointed at the FBI over the weekend. On Sunday, she wrote in a post on X, quote, the FBI is so corrupt, we will work with any and every agency to stop leaks and prosecute these crooked deep state agents to the fullest extent of the law. Border czar Tom Homan went on Fox News on Monday and he agreed with her. Here's some of that.

[Donald Trump]

She's correct. Some of the information we're receiving tends to lead toward the FBI. But I talked to the deputy attorney general all this weekend. They've opened up a criminal investigation and they have promised that not only this person lose their job and lose their pension, they're going to go to jail, they won't criminally prosecute. So we're all over it.

[Pam Bondi]

Homan echoed comments made by Bondi over the weekend. Here was Bondi on Fox News on Sunday.

[Kristi Noem]

If anyone leaks anything people don't understand that jeopardizes the lives of our great men and women in law enforcement. And if you leaked it, we will find out who you are and we will come after you. And it's not going to stop our mission. It's not going to stop the president's mission to make America safe again. We were very clear with the lawsuit that we filed in Chicago that if you don't follow the law, you will be prosecuted by the Department of Justice.

[Pam Bondi]

The pressure is building. The latest leak was printed in the Los Angeles Times. Last week, the Times reported on a leaked memo that described large scale ICE operations planned in LA that were supposed to take place by the end of the month.

[John Bickley]

Well, polling shows a majority back Trump's deportation plan. We'll see if they're able to tighten up the process. Tim, thanks for joining us.

[Pam Bondi]

Good to be on.

[Amanda Presto Giacomo]

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