Trump’s Red Line & WNBA Race Controversy | 5.30.25

Summary

Morning Wire: Trump’s Red Line & WNBA Race Controversy | May 30, 2025

Presented by The Daily Wire

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Introduction

In this episode of Morning Wire, John Bickley and Georgia Howe delve into significant political and cultural developments, including President Trump's strategic moves concerning Russia, the Democratic Party's struggles to regain support among key voter demographics, and a burgeoning racial controversy within the WNBA surrounding star player Caitlin Clark. The hosts provide insightful analysis, featuring contributions from Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips, culture reporter Megan Basham, and other experts.

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Trump’s Stance on Russia and Tariffs

President Trump’s Red Line with Vladimir Putin

• John Bickley opens the discussion by highlighting President Trump's evolving approach to Russia amidst escalating tensions. He notes Trump’s shift from a conciliatory stance to a more confrontational one, especially after Russia's recent airstrikes in Ukraine.

  [00:04] John Bickley: "President Trump faces setbacks on tariffs and Harvard and sets a peace deadline for Putin."

• Cabot Phillips elaborates on this shift, indicating that Trump is now "far more critical" of Putin, pushing for a concrete peace proposal which Russia has yet to provide.

  [01:52] Cabot Phillips: "President Trump multiple times in the last few months has given Putin two weeks to come forward with the deal. And it hasn't happened."

• Trump’s ultimatum to Putin underscores his determination to conclude the conflict:

  [02:23] Donald Trump: "We're going to find out whether or not he's tapping us along or not. And if he is, we'll respond a little bit differently."

Economic Implications: Tariffs and Legal Challenges

• The administration's tariff policies face judicial setbacks as Cabot Phillips explains recent court rulings that strike down Trump's tariffs, citing an overreach of presidential authority under the Emergency Economic Powers Act.

  [03:08] Cabot Phillips: "The court ruled that Trump, quote, exceeded any authority granted to the president by that Emergency Powers Act."

• Despite these challenges, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett remains optimistic, viewing the court’s decisions as minor obstacles:

  [04:10] Kevin Hassett: "There are little hiccups here or there because of decisions that activist judges make, then it shouldn't concern you at all."

Immigration and National Security: Revoking Chinese Student Visas

• The administration intensifies scrutiny on Chinese exchange students, aiming to revoke visas of those with suspected ties to the Communist Party or studying in critical fields.

  [04:19] Cabot Phillips: "Secretary of State Marco Rubio announcing this week that the administration will work to, quote, aggressively revoke the visas of Chinese exchange students who they deem to have ties with the Communist Party."

• China's response condemns the U.S. for discriminatory practices, while Rubio emphasizes the need for increased security.

  [04:19] Cabot Phillips: "China said, quote, this political and discriminatory practice of the US has exposed the lies of the so-called freedom and openness that the US has always advertised."

Elon Musk’s Departure from Government Role

• A notable exit in the administration as Cabot Phillips reports Elon Musk stepping down from the Department of Government Efficiency to focus on his business ventures. Musk's tenure was marked by significant reductions in bureaucratic positions, aligning with Trump's campaign promises.

  [05:12] Cabot Phillips: "Elon Musk announcing that he will be leaving his role at the Department of Government Efficiency to focus on his many business endeavors."

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Democratic Struggles with Voter Demographics

Eroding Support Among Key Demographics

• Georgia Howe and John Bickley discuss the Democrats' declining support among traditional voting blocs, particularly young men and minority groups.

  [00:31] Georgia Howe: "Months after their sweeping election defeat, Democrats continue to struggle, losing ground among their most reliable voting blocs."

• Megan Basham highlights that the party's approval rating has plunged to 27%, the lowest since 1990, with young men perceiving Democrats as out of touch with their economic and cultural concerns.

  [07:30] Megan Basham: "The Democrats are facing a problem of both perception and policy. And overall, the party's approval rating has now plummeted to 27%."

Perception Gap and Policy Misalignment

• David Axelrod, a Democratic strategist, points out that voters feel ignored and left behind, particularly concerning immigration and economic issues.

  [09:42] David Axelrod: "There are groups of voters who just really feel like they have been ignored and left behind."

• Megan Basham notes that Democrat efforts to engage young men through digital platforms have yet to yield significant results, despite a $20 million strategic plan aimed at improving outreach.

  [10:08] Megan Basham: "It's being met with just a little bit of skepticism... focusing on platforms like TikTok, YouTube, also X to some degree, and also on podcasts like Joe Rogan."

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WNBA Racial Controversy Involving Caitlin Clark

Allegations and Investigation

• The WNBA faces scrutiny after an incident in a game between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky, where Caitlin Clark was involved in a flagrant foul against Angel Reese, leading to social media accusations of racism.

  [11:35] John Bickley: "Caitlin Clark continues to draw strong ratings for the WNBA while the league finds itself engulfed in racial controversy."

• David Cohn from Crane and Company reports that the WNBA conducted a week-long investigation but found no evidence to support the racism claims.

  [12:46] David Cohn: "Based on information gathered to date, including from relevant fans, team and arena staff, as well as audio and video of the game, we have not substantiated it."

Public and Social Media Reaction

• The investigation’s conclusion has sparked debate, with some accusing the WNBA of unfairly targeting Clark, while others support the league’s stance against racism.

  [13:09] David Cohn: "Apparently, the real racism is being directed against Caitlin Clark for being one of the few standout white stars in the league."

• Influential figures like Dave Portnoy have criticized the investigation, advocating for support of Caitlin Clark and condemning the league's actions.

  [13:53] David Cohn: "Dave Portnoy... slammed the league's investigation as bs."

Impact on WNBA Ratings

• Despite the controversy, the WNBA maintains strong viewership, particularly due to Caitlin Clark's performances, with top games attracting over 2 million viewers. However, Clark's recent quad injury poses questions about the league’s sustained popularity.

  [14:23] David Cohn: "The top five most watched regular season WNBA games over the past two years feature Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever."

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Conclusion

John Bickley and Georgia Howe wrap up the episode by emphasizing the ongoing political tensions involving President Trump and Russia, the Democratic Party's urgent need to reconnect with key voter demographics, and the WNBA's handling of racial controversies amidst high viewership. They encourage listeners to stay informed and engaged with these pivotal issues shaping the current socio-political landscape.

[15:21] Georgia Howe: "Thanks for waking up with us. We'll be back tomorrow with the news you need to know."

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Notable Quotes

• Donald Trump:

  [00:09] "This isn't my war. This is Biden's war, Zelensky's war, and Putin's war. This isn't Trump's war. I'm only here for one thing, to see if I can end it."

• Cabot Phillips:

  [02:32] "But look, it's worth noting President Trump multiple times in the last few months has given Putin two weeks to come forward with the deal. And it hasn't happened."

• David Axelrod:

  [09:42] "There are groups of voters who just really feel like they have been ignored and left behind."

• Megan Basham:

  [07:53] "This perception gap, it's the GOP's bold, unapologetic style... is something that's particularly drawing them to Donald Trump."

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Final Thoughts

This episode of Morning Wire offers a comprehensive examination of pressing issues impacting American politics and sports. From international diplomacy and economic policies to internal party dynamics and cultural controversies, John Bickley and Georgia Howe provide listeners with a nuanced understanding of the forces shaping today's news landscape.

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For more updates and in-depth analysis, subscribe to the Morning Wire channel on YouTube and stay informed with the news you need to know.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

President Trump faces setbacks on tariffs and Harvard and sets a peace deadline for Putin.

[Donald Trump]

This isn't my war. This is Biden's war, Zelensky's war and Putin's war. This isn't Trump's war. I'm only here for one thing, to see if I can end it.

[Georgia Howe]

Has President Trump drawn a red line with Russia?

[John Bickley]

I'm Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Friday, May 30th, and this is Morning Wire.

[Georgia Howe]

Months after their sweeping election defeat, Democrats continue to struggle, losing ground among their most reliable voting blocs.

[John Bickley]

The party that sees itself as the party of working people came to be seen by so many working people as a party of elites. And Caitlin Clark continues to score big ratings for the wnba, but the league is being rocked by racial controversy.

[Georgia Howe]

Thanks for waking up with MORNING wire. Stay tuned. News you need to know America is built on hard work and powered by American energy. Chevron has spent $44 billion with local businesses across all 50 states since 2022, fueling infrastructure and communities, all while strengthening local economies. Last year, Chevron increased U.S. production nearly 20%, powering communities and businesses from the heartlands to the coasts. We're helping to fuel America's energy advantage, building a brighter Future right here, chevron.com America to discover more. In a flurry of activity, the president appeared to give Vladimir Putin an ultimatum this week and vowed to push ahead with tariffs despite a roadblock in the courts.

[John Bickley]

Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips is here to get us up to speed. Hey, Cabot. So the Trump Putin showdown, really escalating over the course of this week, continues to. What's the latest here?

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah, it seems clear President Trump is done taking the good cop approach with Vladimir Putin after those unprecedented Russian airstrikes against Ukrainian cities. The president has become far more critical of his counterpart in Moscow, accusing them of intentionally stalling on peace negotiations. To that point, Putin promised last week to deliver a peace proposal to get formal talks going, but we've yet to see anything come out. The Kremlin will only say that their proposal is in its, quote, final stages. And now Trump appears to be giving Putin an ultimatum.

[Donald Trump]

We're going to find out whether or not he's tapping us along or not. And if he is, we'll respond a little bit differently. But it'll take about a week and a half, two weeks.

[Cabot Phillips]

But look, it's worth noting. President Trump multiple times in the last few months has given Putin two weeks to come forward with the deal. And it hasn't happened. Now, last weekend, he said he was strongly considering new sanctions against Moscow. But in recent days, he has walked back that idea, saying he did not want to hinder potential peace talks.

[Donald Trump]

If I think I'm close to getting a deal, I don't want to screw it up by doing that. Let me tell you, I'm a lot tougher than the people you're talking about. But you have to know when to use that.

[John Bickley]

All right? Now, on the economic front, the Trump administration was dealt some potentially significant blows in court this week. What's going on there?

[Cabot Phillips]

So, two parts here. First, on Wednesday night, a three judge panel from the U.S. court of International Trade struck down dozens of President Trump's tariffs on countries worldwide. Remember, Trump invoked the Emergency Economic Powers act to implement those tariffs. He argued that fentanyl trafficking and trade deficits constituted a national emergency and therefore he had power to act. But the court ruled that Trump, quote, exceeded any authority granted to the president by that Emergency Powers Act. So then Thursday morning, a second Federal Court in D.C. issued a similar ruling, again saying Trump's tariffs were unlawful. Now, that first ruling was put on hold Thursday afternoon by a federal appeals court. They ruled in Trump's favor, saying that all tariffs can remain in place while the court reviews the case. Regardless of how they ruled, though, the Trump administration says they are not slowing down. They called the rulings a hiccup. Here's White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett making that case. If there are little hiccups here or there because of decisions that activist judges make, then it shouldn't concern you at all. And it's certainly not going to affect the negotiations.

[John Bickley]

I said the administration still pushing ahead on tariffs, feel very confident about that. Still. They're also very confident about revoking student visas. Tell more about that.

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah, big move here. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announcing this week that the administration will work to, quote, aggressively revoke the visas of Chinese exchange students who they deem to have ties with the Communist Party as well as those studying in, quote, critical fields. Keep in mind, Chinese students account for about 20% of all student visas. The State Department has been warning for years now that many of those students work with the CCP to smuggle sensitive research data and other intellectual property back to Beijing. In response, China said, quote, this political and discriminatory practice of the US has exposed the lies of the so called freedom and openness that the US has always advertised. Rubio, though, says we will also create a new process to enhance scrutiny on all future applications on Chinese students So they're really cracking down on the ccp.

[John Bickley]

Yeah, they clearly are. Now. One big piece of news before you go from the administration. A major departure. What's happening there?

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah. Elon Musk announcing that he will be leaving his role at the Department of Government Efficiency to focus on his many business endeavors. Musk helped carry out Trump's campaign pledge to cut back the bureaucracy in Washington. He slashed tens of thousands of government jobs during his short tenure. And while at times he certainly clashed with some cabinet members and other officials, by all accounts he leaves in very good standing with President Trump.

[John Bickley]

And sort of a bittersweet moment there. Cabot, thanks so much for reporting.

[Cabot Phillips]

Absolutely.

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[John Bickley]

The party itself has increasingly become a smarty pants, suburban, college educated party, and it lends itself to the kind of backlash that we've seen. That was Democrat strategist David Axelrod discussing the Democrats struggle to connect with American men, a demographic that played a crucial role in putting Trump in the White House. A recent report leaked to the New York Times highlights the party's $20 million plan to win them back.

[Georgia Howe]

Daily Wire culture reporter Megan Basham joins us now with the detail. So, Megan, the New York Times article paints a pretty grim picture for Democrats. And then there's other data out now showing they've lost 20 points among black adults and about the same with Hispanics. So just how bad is The Democrats relationship with young men specifically?

[Megan Basham]

Well, you know, Georgia, what I would say is that the Democrats are facing a problem of both perception and policy. And overall, the party's approval rating has now plummeted to 27%. That's the lowest that it's been since 1990. Young men in particular are shifting rightward, with many feeling alienated by the Democrat Party's current messaging. This was something that Jake Tapper captured recently.

[Cabot Phillips]

I went on a left leaning podcast and they asked me about my son and I said he was, you know, he's, he's a football player and he wants to be a policeman. And their joke was about my 15 year old son. Oh, how does he feel about minorities? Like the idea that he wants to be a policeman, therefore he's, he's racist, my son. And like, you know, that was the big laugh.

[Megan Basham]

So a focus group cited in that Times report found that these voters, specifically young men, tend to see Democrats as sloths or tortoises, whereas they see Republicans as, quote, unquote, apex predators. And that's something that's particularly drawing them to Donald Trump. That perception gap, it's the GOP's bold, unapologetic style. And of course it is exemplified by the head of the gop, Donald Trump, himself. Himself.

[Georgia Howe]

So that's perception. But what about specific policies that are pushing young men away from the Democratic Party?

[Megan Basham]

So a few issues stand out. First, there's the economic angle. Working class counties with lower median incomes have seen young men gravitate toward the gop, which they perceive as better addressing their economic concerns, like job security, cost of living, some important things like that. And then second, there's also this cultural component. So young white men, particularly those who do not have college degrees, feel that the Democrats focus on progressive social issues. Things like gender identity and dei, something that was heavily pushed by the last Biden administration, demonizes them. Meanwhile, you have the GOP's presence on platforms like Joe Rogan and other popular podcasters with young men. And that has really created a pull that the Democrats are struggling to counter. This was what pollster Carly Cooperman told me.

[David Axelrod]

There are groups of voters who just really feel like they have been ignored and left behind. I think you see with Hispanics in particular, the issue of immigration was something that was huge. I mean, these are people who feel like there has been too much immigration into the country and it is impacting their day to day life in terms of jobs and cost of living and the like.

[Georgia Howe]

Okay, so let's talk about the $20 million plan that Dems hope are going to bring these men back. What is that plan?

[Megan Basham]

So they have a multifaceted strategy, but I would say it's being met with just a little bit of skepticism. So a key initiative here starts with this $20 million plan that you mentioned that's led by activist David Hogg's organization. So it's called the American A Strategic Plan. And it will study, I'm quoting here, the syntax, language and content that gains attention and virality in these spaces of male voters. So the focus is on digital outreach, emphasizing platforms like TikTok, YouTube, also X to some degree, and also on podcasts like Joe Rogan, which were so prominent and influential in that last election.

[David Axelrod]

That was a huge shift in the way the media landscape worked. You know, I think we saw Democrats wary of going on some of these podcasts that lean, you know, culturally conservative or where Republicans were going on. But that is the shifting landscape, and that is where people are reaching men, and particularly younger men.

[Megan Basham]

So beyond the digital campaigns are also amplifying younger voices, people like Pete Buttigieg and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. So really hoping that these will be the leaders of 2028.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, you know, if they don't diagnose the root issue, it's going to be very hard to fix it. Megan, thanks for reporting.

[Megan Basham]

Yeah, absolutely. My pleasure.

[Georgia Howe]

Caitlin Clark continues to draw strong ratings for the WNBA while the league finds itself engulfed in racial controversy.

[John Bickley]

The league has just completed an investigation into racial discrimination. Here to tell us more is David Cohn from Crane and Company. Hey, David. So tell us about this situation with Caitlin Clark.

[David Cohn]

Yes, the WNBA season is only two weeks in so far to 2025, but it only took one game for accusations of racism to be investigated by the league. By now, many of our listeners know that Caitlin Clark and her team, the Indiana Fever, took on the Chicago sky on May 17 to kick off this year, and Clark was called for a flagrant foul against Angel Reese of the Chicago sk. Angel Reese came after Caitlin Clark had to be restrained by her teammates. Now, neither team mentioned any accusations of fan remarks in the post game news conference, but allegations of hateful remarks began to surface on social media afterwards and those remarks were directed towards Angel Reese, who is black. And Reese and the WNBA announced within a few hours that it would investigate those claims and Reese commented on the supposedly racist behavior against her here.

[Megan Basham]

Obviously, there's no place in this league for that.

[Cabot Phillips]

I think the WNBA and our team.

[Georgia Howe]

And our organization has done a great.

[John Bickley]

Job supporting me, but the league has now wrapped up this investigation and the story doesn't quite hold up, Correct?

[David Cohn]

Correct. So after an investigation that lasted about a week long, the WNBA says they found no evidence to support this. I'll read their quote here verbatim. Based on information gathered to date, including from relevant fans, team and arena staff, as well as audio and video of the game, we have not substantiated it.

[John Bickley]

How is the conclusion of this investigation being responded to so far?

[David Cohn]

Well, many across the country are calling out the league for having a full blown investigation. Based off social media comments, it is unclear whether Reese herself notified the WNBA to prompt this investigation. Many observers of the WNBA have said the real racism is being directed against Caitlin Clark for being one of the few standout white stars in the league. Now Caitlin Clark, for her part, has spoken out against racial discrimination multiple times. She said last week there is no place for that in our game or in our society.

[Cabot Phillips]

I appreciate the league doing that. I appreciate, you know, the Fever organization has been at the forefront of that since, you know, really day one.

[John Bickley]

And what they're doing a pretty gracious response there and I assume social media a little bit less gracious about this whole situation. Tell us about that.

[David Cohn]

Certainly. So one notable example is Dave Portnoy, the Barstool Sports founder who is an avid Caitlin Clark fan and who was at the game in question on May 17. He posted a fiery message following the inquiry and he told Indiana Fever Clark's team that it's okay to have a spine and defend its fans. He also slammed the league's investigation as bs.

[John Bickley]

So a very Portnoy response there. Just stepping back a little bit. How is the WNBA doing, especially with all these controversies?

[David Cohn]

Here's some context for you. The top five most watched regular season WNBA games over the past two years feature Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. And two of those have come so far in this initial 2025 season. That's 2.7 million people tuned in to watch the Fever take on the sky. That's where this whole situation began. And then 2.2 million watched the Fever take on the New York Liberty just a few days ago. And that game against the Liberty, Caitlin Clark suffered a quad injury that will likely keep her sidelined for two weeks, which means she will miss her first game action since high school. But many in the sport insist that the league's ratings have nothing to do with Clark whatsoever. So it'll be very telling to check those ratings if Caitlin Clark is indeed sidelined for multiple weeks.

[John Bickley]

Yeah, will. And meanwhile, this controversy is getting a lot of buzz. We're talking about it now. A lot of other outlets talking about the WNBA because of it. Dave, thanks so much for reporting.

[David Cohn]

Thank you for having me.

[Georgia Howe]

Before you go, we're on YouTube now. Watch and subscribe to the video version on our morning wire channel. Thanks for waking up with us. We'll be back tomorrow with the news you need to know.