Trump’s Retaliatory Tariffs & North Carolina Recovery | 2.11.25

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary: “Trump’s Retaliatory Tariffs & North Carolina Recovery” | February 11, 2025

Presented by The Daily Wire's Editor-in-Chief John Bickley and co-host Georgia Howe, the “Morning Wire” podcast delivers in-depth coverage of the latest developments in politics, culture, education, sports, and more. In this episode, released on February 11, 2025, the hosts delve into President Trump’s recent economic policies, the ongoing recovery efforts in North Carolina post-Hurricane Helene, and the administrative battles surrounding federal government reforms.

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1. President Trump’s Retaliatory Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum Imports

Announcement and Objectives

President Trump made a significant move by announcing sweeping tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports. This decision aligns with his longstanding campaign promise to implement retaliatory tariffs against countries that impose high duties on American goods.

• Georgia Howe [00:03]: "President Trump announces sweeping tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports while reaffirming his promise of retaliatory tariffs."

• John Bickley [00:11]: "If they are charging us 130% and we're charging them nothing, it's not going to stay that way."

Trump's strategy is rooted in the belief that imposing equal or higher tariffs on imports will protect and spur domestic manufacturing, reduce trade deficits, and counteract what he perceives as unfair trade practices by other nations.

Details of the Tariffs

The tariffs include a 25% tax on steel and aluminum imports, with the president indicating plans to extend similar tariffs to other sectors such as computer chips, copper, oil, gas, and pharmaceuticals by the end of the month.

• Cabot Phillips [02:08]: "Donald Trump stressed over and over on the campaign trail his affinity for tariffs, which he calls, quote, the most beautiful word in the dictionary."

International Response

The international community has reacted swiftly to Trump's tariffs. China and the European Union (EU) have both imposed retaliatory measures:

• China [02:42]: Implemented tariffs of 10-15% on American goods like crude oil and natural gas, labeling the US actions as "wrongful" and urging restraint.

• European Union [02:42]: Vowed to respond with higher tariffs, declaring Trump's tariffs "unlawful and counterproductive."

Domestic Reactions

Within the United States, reactions are polarized:

• Supporters: American steel and auto workers have celebrated the tariffs, leading to a surge in domestic steel and aluminum stocks.

• Opponents: Democrats and traditional free-market Republicans argue that a trade war disadvantages consumers who will bear the brunt of increased prices.

• John Bickley [03:05]: "Other countries around the world cannot charge us 20% or 30% or in the case of some countries, 100%. And then we charge them nothing. It is bankrupting our industry, it is driving up our deficit, is stealing our jobs."

Future Implications

Trump acknowledges potential short-term price increases as businesses may pass the cost of tariffs onto consumers. However, he contends these spikes will be temporary and necessary for long-term economic restructuring.

• Cabot Phillips [03:19]: "Trump firmly believes that tariffs are a quick way to increase revenue, offset trade deficits and spur manufacturing here in the U.S."

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2. Federal Government Restructuring and Legal Challenges

DOGE Program and Government Audits

John Bickley highlights the administration's efforts to audit government waste and fraud through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) program. This initiative is seen as a pivotal move to overhaul government operations.

• John Bickley [00:37]: "I believe that this Doge program in my adult life is one of the most important audits of government or changes to government structure we have seen."

Judicial Pushback on Administrative Reforms

Several of Trump's administrative actions, including workforce reductions and agency audits, are currently under legal scrutiny. Notably, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has faced temporary shutdowns and funding halts due to lawsuits questioning the legality of the administration's moves.

• John Bickley [06:36]: "Russell Vogt... sent out a memo to CFPB workers over the weekend telling them to stop almost all their work."

Federal Worker Buyout Offer

The administration's attempt to streamline the federal workforce through a buyout program offering eight months of pay for resignations has been temporarily halted by a federal judge in Massachusetts.

• John Bickley [07:43]: "A federal judge in Massachusetts put a freeze on Trump's fork in the road offer yesterday."

With over 65,000 employees having accepted the offer, the legal challenges pose significant uncertainty for federal workers and the administration's restructuring plans.

Executive Authority and Legal Battles

The White House, supported by 22 Republican attorneys general, is contesting judicial interventions, asserting that the courts are overstepping executive authority in managing the federal workforce.

• John Bickley [08:45]: "The White House is getting some help from 22 Republican attorneys general who filed a friend of the court brief... urging courts to respect the president's authority."

Statements from Administration Officials

• Stephen Miller [03:19]: "If they charge us, we charge them. If they're at 25, we're at 25. If they're at 10, we're at 10. And if they're much higher than 25, that's where we are, too."

• Stephen Miller [09:23]: "This ruling is an assault on the very idea of democracy itself."

These comments underscore the administration's stance on maintaining robust executive control over federal operations amidst mounting legal challenges.

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3. North Carolina Recovery Post-Hurricane Helene

Disaster Impact and FEMA's Response

North Carolina continues to grapple with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which struck in September. FEMA’s recovery efforts have shown mixed results, prompting scrutiny over the agency’s effectiveness.

• Georgia Howe [00:37]: "The city of Asheville went for almost two months without water and FEMA failed to answer nearly half of the calls from people that were asking for assistance."

Progress Reports

Despite initial setbacks, recent progress includes:

• FEMA Assistance:

  • 138,000 homes visited by disaster survivor assistance crews
  • 66,000 individuals served at disaster recovery centers
  • 3,284 households received rental assistance
  • 150 households residing in FEMA-provided temporary housing
  • 18,000 households funded for basic repairs

• Ash Short [10:45]: "Since Trump took office, he has focused on recovery efforts in North Carolina... 138,000 homes have been visited by FEMA disaster survivor assistance crews."

Administrative Oversight and Reform

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized the need for reform within FEMA to eliminate inefficiencies and ensure effective disaster response.

• Ash Short [12:31]: "She suggested Trump should, quote, get rid of FEMA the way it exists today... we still need the resources and the funds... to go to people that have these types of disasters like Hurricane Helene and fires in California, end quote."

Political Controversies

Recent reports have accused FEMA of discriminating against Trump-supporting communities, which Noem addresses by advocating for collaboration with Congress to properly reform the agency.

• Ash Short [12:31]: "Noem made sure to note that Trump should work with Congress to make sure FEMA is reformed correctly."

FEMA’s Mismanagement Allegations

An incident involving FEMA allocating $59 million to luxury hotels in New York City for housing illegal immigrants prompted swift action:

• Ash Short [13:04]: "Musk posted the claim on X, at which point acting FEMA Director Cameron Hamilton responded, announcing that such payments have been suspended and that personnel will be held accountable."

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4. California Fire Recovery Efforts

Ongoing Challenges

Despite extinguishing the wildfires, California faces a lengthy recovery process. Los Angeles County has engaged a private firm to evaluate its response to the fires, and Governor Gavin Newsom has mandated climate-resilient rebuilding practices.

• Ash Short [13:19]: "California Governor Gavin Newsom recently said that people would not be able to build their homes back as they were, but would instead need to build in a way with, quote, climate reality in mind."

Administrative Controversies

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass faced backlash for appointing a recovery czar with a $500,000 compensation for three months of work, which was sourced from charity groups. The appointee declined the offer following public criticism.

• Ash Short [13:19]: "LA Mayor Karen Bass has also come under fire for appointing a recovery czar that would be paid 500,000 doll dollars for just three months of work."

• Rick Grenell: Criticized the excessive salary, highlighting concerns over fiscal responsibility in recovery efforts.

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5. Political Appointments and Nominations

Tulsi Gabbard’s Nomination

Tulsi Gabbard is nearing confirmation as the next Director of National Intelligence. The Senate has advanced her nomination to a final vote, with expectations of a decision within the week.

• Cabot Phillips [05:15]: "On Monday night, Tulsi Gabbard moved one step closer to being confirmed as the next Director of National Intelligence."

Future Appointments

Following Gabbard’s potential confirmation, attention will shift to other key appointments, including those related to RFK, highlighting the administration's ongoing efforts to shape federal leadership.

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Conclusion

In this episode of "Morning Wire," The Daily Wire provides a comprehensive analysis of President Trump's aggressive economic policies, particularly the implementation of retaliatory tariffs aimed at reshaping global trade dynamics and bolstering American manufacturing. Concurrently, the administration faces significant legal challenges as it attempts to streamline federal operations and combat government inefficiency. Amid these political maneuvers, recovery efforts in disaster-stricken regions like North Carolina and California reveal both progress and persistent challenges, underscoring the complexities of federal disaster management. The podcast also touches on pivotal political appointments, indicating a continued focus on influencing national intelligence and federal leadership structures.

Stay informed with Morning Wire for the latest developments and in-depth coverage of the news that matters.

Transcript

[Georgia Howe]

President Trump announces sweeping tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports while reaffirming his promise of retaliatory tariffs.

[John Bickley]

If they are charging us 130% and we're charging them nothing, it's not going to stay that way.

[Georgia Howe]

I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire Editor in Chief John Bickley. It's Tuesday, February 11th, and this is Morning Wire. The lawsuits pile up as Trump and Doge continue their quest to strike at the heart of government waste and fraud.

[John Bickley]

I believe that this Doge program in my adult life is one of the most important audits of government or changes to government structure we have seen. And months after Hurricane Helene ravaged North Carolina, recovery ramps up. But FEMA's past failures raise questions about its future.

[Georgia Howe]

The city of Asheville went for almost two months without water and FEMA failed to answer nearly half of the calls from people that were asking for assistance. Thanks for waking up with Morning wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know.

[Brandon]

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[John Bickley]

President Trump announced broad tariffs this week on all steel and aluminum coming into the country and and promise to roll out new tariffs in the coming days.

[Georgia Howe]

Here to break down what it means for consumers and how other countries are responding is Daily Wire Senior editor Cabot Phillips. So, Cabot, we've been hearing about these tariffs for a long time. What are they going to look like?

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah. Donald Trump stressed over and over on the campaign trail his affinity for tariffs, which he calls, quote, the most beautiful word in the dictionary, saying he would use them to prevent other countries from taking advantage of us and spur domestic manufacturing. And after three weeks in office, he showed he was not kidding. On Monday, Trump announced that he'd be ordering new 25% tariffs on all steel and aluminum imports.

[John Bickley]

It's time to be reciprocal. If they charge us, we charge them. If they're at 25, we're at 25. If they're at 10, we're at 10. And if they're much higher than 25, that's where we are, too.

[Cabot Phillips]

And the president says this is just phase one and that by the end of the month he'll roll out plans for similar across the board tariffs on everything from computer chips and copper to oil, gas and pharmaceuticals. According to Trump, these tariffs are simply a response to those already in place from other countries. As he put it, quote, they charge us, we charge them. Here's White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller on Fox speaking to that point.

[John Bickley]

Other countries around the world cannot charge us 20% or 30% or in the case of some countries, 100%. And then we charge them nothing. It is bankrupting our industry, it is driving up our deficit, is stealing our jobs.

[Cabot Phillips]

So, as Trump allies put it, the president sees two different types of punitive and structural. For example, punitive tariffs would be like those threatened against Canada and Mexico last week. They're intended more as punishment in that case for illegal immigration. And the goal is non trade related. These latest steel and aluminum tariffs, though, are different. In fact, they're meant as a long term structural change to US Trade policy. More broadly, Trump firmly believes that tariffs are a quick way to to increase revenue, offset trade deficits and spur manufacturing here in the U.S. remember, he believes businesses will be encouraged to bring production stateside to avoid paying these tariffs at the border. But that is a gamble for a few reasons. First, Trump himself has admitted that the plan could result in price increases as businesses pass the cost of these tariffs onto consumers. He says those price spikes would be short term, but even a short term increase would hurt him politically. And second, other countries could well respond with tariffs of their own, something we're already starting to see.

[Georgia Howe]

Now let's get into that. What sort of response have we seen abroad?

[Cabot Phillips]

Well, on Monday, Chinese tariffs officially went into effect. Those include 10 to 15% on crude oil, natural gas and other American goods. Beijing issued a statement saying, quote, we urge the US Side to stop its wrongful actions and refrain from politicizing and instrumentalizing economic and trade issues. Likewise, the EU vowed Monday to respond with higher tariffs of their own, calling Trump's order unlawful and counterproductive. So things certainly could get messy. Now. Domestically, the response has been mixed. American steel and auto workers celebrated the move and domestic steel and aluminum stocks soared, while Democrats and a handful of more traditional free market Republicans expressed opposition, saying, no one wins a trade war and the consumers will ultimately foot the bill.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, turning elsewhere, before you go, there was some movement on Washington regarding Trump's cabinet on Monday. Tell us about that.

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah. On Monday night, Tulsi Gabbard moved one step closer to being confirmed as the next Director of National Intelligence. The Senate voted to advance her nomination to a final vote and opened up a 30 hour window for debate on the floor. She'll need to get 50 votes. That vote will likely be held this week and then all eyes will turn to rfk.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, a lot of people are watching that one. Cabot, thanks for reporting.

[Cabot Phillips]

Anytime.

[John Bickley]

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[Georgia Howe]

Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce is here to talk about the latest in Trump's plan to reshape the federal bureaucracy. So, Tim, let's start off with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. That agency apparently shut down over the weekend. What happened?

[John Bickley]

Yes. So Russell Vogt is President Trump's head of the Office of Management and Budget, and he's also the acting head of the cfpb. The CFPB is an independent agency in the executive branch that's funded directly by the Treasury. So uniquely for the government, Congress isn't involved in funding it. Vogt sent out a memo to CFPB workers over the weekend telling them to stop almost all their work. The pause is so the agency's work can be reviewed and better aligned with Trump's agenda. Vogt also told Treasury Secretary Scott Besant that the agency doesn't need any more funding next quarter. Democrats held a rally outside the CFPB yesterday. Here's what some of that sounded like. Let us work, let us work, let us work, let us work. Now, these moves by vote have been challenged in court. So we'll have to see what a judge makes of the lawsuit and how that impacts the cfpb. But for right now, the agency is on ice.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, speaking of, we reported last week that thousands of federal workers accepted that buyout offer from the Trump administration. But now a judge is saying that that offer might not be legal. What's the status of the worker buyout?

[John Bickley]

Yeah. A federal judge in Massachusetts put a freeze on Trump's fork in the road offer yesterday. The program was a buyout. Any takers would continue to be paid for eight months if they agreed to resign by Monday. Federal labor union sued over it. They said the program is arbitrary and capricious and that it lacks designated funding. So in other words, the Trump administration is making promises it can't keep. The judge didn't make a ruling on it, but he did on Monday place a temporary restraining order on the program to give him time until he does.

[Georgia Howe]

So what happens with the employees who accepted the buyout? And also how many people does that apply to?

[John Bickley]

At least 65,000 employees have accepted it so far, and now their buyouts are in limbo. The White House is getting some help from 22 Republican attorneys general who filed a friend of the court brief on Sunday and pushed back against the labor unions. The brief said the courts should refrain from intruding into the president's well settled Article 2 authority to supervise and manage the federal workforce. So the court could upset a lot of federal employees who don't get the severance package they jumped on.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, several members of the White House have accused another judge of overstepping executive authority. Regarding the Treasury Department. What's the White House saying there?

[John Bickley]

Right. This is from a lawsuit filed by Democratic attorneys general over the Department of Government Efficiency. Here's Treasury Secretary Bessen explaining what's happening at his department in in an interview on Bloomberg TV on Friday. There's a lot of misinformation out there. First of all, when you say the Doge team, these are treasury employees, Two treasury employees, one of whom I personally interviewed in his final round. There is no tinkering with the system. They are on read only. They are looking. They can make no changes. It is an operational program to suggest improvements. Because of the lawsuit, a federal judge in Manhattan put a broad freeze on who is able to look at Treasury Department systems and information. The order was so broad, however, that the White House says that even Besant is blocked under it. Here's White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller on Fox News on Monday. That ruling is an assault on the very idea of democracy itself. What we continue to see here is the idea that rogue bureaucrats who are elected by no one, who answer to no one, this unelected shadow force that is running our government and running our country. So that was Miller on the ruling about the treasury, but he could easily extend that argument to include the lawsuit on the fork in the road program and many other legal actions over Trump's presidential authority.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, Trump is clearly determined to cut the waste, but it's going to be a fight. Tim, thanks for joining.

[John Bickley]

Thanks for having me. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited North Carolina over the weekend to tour hurricane damage. Noem announced that as of early February, 80% of Hurricane Helene victims cases were now closed.

[Georgia Howe]

Here to discuss the ongoing recovery efforts is Daily Wire senior editor Ash Short. So, Ash, the hurricane struck in September. Where are we at with recovery?

[Ash Short]

Well, since Trump took office, he has focused on recovery efforts in North Carolina. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was there Monday looking at ways to rebuild Interstate 40 and promising fast, cheap, safe rebuilding in the area. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, whose department oversees FEMA, was there this weekend saying the agency has made significant progress. According to the official numbers, we know that 138,000 homes have been visited by FEMA disaster survivor assistance crews. 66,000 people have visited a disaster recovery center, 3,284 households have received rental assistance. 150 households are currently living in FEMA provided temporary housing units, and 18,000 households have received money for basic repairs. Noem also stressed that recovery efforts have stepped up considerably since Trump took office. Here's Noem.

[Georgia Howe]

The disaster after the disaster ended when.

[John Bickley]

President Trump came in and visited this.

[Georgia Howe]

Community and in less than 20 days secured over $54 million for families in need. President Trump is ensuring that communities aren't forgotten. And he launched the first major initiative to connect farmers with recovery assistance as well.

[Ash Short]

When Trump took office, the U.S. army Corps of Engineers was also dispatched to repair roads and bridges that were destroyed in the storm. We should also note that Trump's first presidential trip was to North Carolina, where he met with families and surveyed the damage.

[Georgia Howe]

Right. And Noem also mentioned what she called political targeting. That, of course, is referring to the Daily Wire exclusive report last year about FEMA leaders telling workers to avoid assisting homes that had a vote for Trump sign on their lawn. We know Noem made some waves for somewhat addressing this on CNN on Sunday. What did she say about it?

[Ash Short]

Well, she suggested Trump should, quote, get rid of FEMA the way it exists today, adding that we still need the resources and the funds and the finances to go to people that have these types of disasters like Hurricane Helene and fires in California, end quote. Noem made sure to note that Trump should work with Congress to make sure FEMA is reformed correctly.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, speaking of reforming the agency, it was just reported that FEMA sent $59 million just last week to luxury hotels in New York City for housing illegal immigrants. What do we know about those payments?

[Ash Short]

Musk posted the claim on X, at which point acting FEMA Director Cameron Hamilton responded, announcing that such payments have been suspended and that personnel will be held accountable.

[Georgia Howe]

Now switching gears to California, what are the updates on the recovery efforts there?

[Ash Short]

Though the fires have been put out, recovery is a long way off. Los Angeles county announced on Friday that it hired a private firm to investigate how the county responded to the fires. And California Governor Gavin Newsom recently said that people would not be able to build their homes back as they were, but would instead need to build in a way with, quote, climate reality in mind. And LA Mayor Karen Bass has also come under fire for appointing a recovery czar that would be paid 500,000 doll dollars for just three months of work. While the pay was coming from reported charity groups, the backlash caused the czar to announce he would not accept the money. Rick Grenell, Trump's envoy for Special Missions, was one of those who called out the astronomical salary.

[Georgia Howe]

Yeah, that is terrible optics. Ash. Thanks for reporting.

[Ash Short]

You're welcome.

[Georgia Howe]

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

[John Bickley]

Foreign.

[Brandon]

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