Podcast Summary: Morning Wire Episode featuring Tulsi Gabbard on China, Cartels, and Cleaning House

Podcast Information:

• Title: Morning Wire
• Host: John Bickley and Georgia Howe
• Description: Presented by The Daily Wire, Morning Wire offers daily coverage of the latest developments in politics, culture, education, sports, and more, aiming to provide reliable news amidst declining trust in mainstream media.
• Episode Title: Tulsi Gabbard on China, Cartels, and Cleaning House
• Release Date: June 7, 2025

Introduction

In this engaging weekend edition of Morning Wire, Executive Editor John Bickley and co-host Georgia Howe welcome Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, who joins them from Singapore. The discussion revolves around major geopolitical developments, particularly focusing on China's emerging threats, the role of international criminal organizations, and domestic policies aimed at combating these issues.

Shangri La Dialogue Summit Overview

Tulsi Gabbard provides an insightful overview of the Shangri La Dialogue Summit held in Singapore, a significant defense summit in Asia. She emphasizes the summit's role in fostering diplomatic relationships and addressing mutual security concerns among Indo-Pacific nations.

[00:02] Tulsi Gabbard: "Since being sworn in as the director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard has played a prominent role on both the domestic and international fronts, working to expose the weaponization of federal agencies and working with America's allies abroad to combat terrorism and trafficking."

China’s Military Threats

The conversation delves into Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's alarming remarks about China's potential military aggression in the region. Gabbard provides context, countering the narrative that China is imminently preparing for military action.

[02:38] John Bickley: "Is China preparing to take military action in the region?"

[02:43] Tulsi Gabbard: "The indications show us that the answer is no. The overwhelming message is that President Trump is the president of peace, striving to achieve stability through dialogue and diplomacy."

Broader Security Concerns: Cartels and Trafficking

Gabbard broadens the discussion beyond China's military ambitions, highlighting the pervasive threats posed by transnational criminal organizations. She underscores the urgent need to address issues like fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking, human trafficking, and the overall weaponization of federal agencies.

[04:32] Tulsi Gabbard: "Counterterrorism has been a really common topic... The issue of transnational criminal organizations has been a predominant concern as well."

US Border Security: Trump vs. Biden Administration

A critical comparison is made between the Trump administration's stringent border policies and the Biden administration's approach, which Gabbard criticizes for effectively opening the borders and facilitating cartel activities.

[06:06] Tulsi Gabbard: "The Biden administration's open borders really rolled out the red carpet for these cartels to conduct their illegal activities."

She highlights the success of the Trump administration in securing the borders, noting record low crossings and the subsequent ability to crack down on illegal enterprises.

[07:59] John Bickley: "At this point, is there a sense of real opportunity to better crack down on these illegal enterprises?"

[08:09] Tulsi Gabbard: "We are taking a very comprehensive approach... securing our borders is more secure now than it has been in a very, very long time."

Holistic Approach to Combatting Cartels

Gabbard discusses the Trump administration's holistic strategy to dismantle cartels by targeting financial networks and the sources of drug trafficking, rather than merely addressing surface-level operations.

[09:47] John Bickley: "We're dealing with the Treasury Department and they brought up the same concept, this holistic approach that the Trump administration is taking to crack down from the financial side on cartels."

Global Perception of US Policies

The dialogue shifts to the international perception of the United States under President Trump's leadership. Gabbard emphasizes the global desire to maintain and strengthen partnerships, with many countries looking to the US for leadership in addressing shared security concerns.

[10:14] Tulsi Gabbard: "There's a desire to continue to maintain and grow strong partnerships amongst the United States and these other countries."

Domestic Policy: Weaponization of Agencies

Concluding the discussion, Gabbard addresses her efforts to unveil the weaponization and politicization of federal agencies under the Biden administration. She shares insights from declassified documents exposing how political dissent was labeled as violent extremism, particularly targeting those opposed to COVID-19 mandates and open border policies.

[12:12] Tulsi Gabbard: "One of the documents I released was the strategic implementation plan of the Biden administration's efforts against violent domestic extremists... these documents show that those who spoke out against the Biden administration's policies were likely to potentially resort to violent extremism."

She stresses the importance of transparency to prevent future abuses of power and to restore trust in federal institutions.

[15:30] John Bickley: "Crucial to keeping the trust of the American people."

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with Gabbard reiterating the significance of transparency and the need to safeguard democratic institutions from internal weaponization. Her comprehensive insights provide listeners with a profound understanding of both international and domestic challenges facing the United States today.

[15:37] Tulsi Gabbard: "Thank you. Great to talk to you."

Notable Quotes:

• Tulsi Gabbard ([02:43]): "The overwhelming message is that President Trump is the president of peace, striving to achieve stability through dialogue and diplomacy."
• Tulsi Gabbard ([07:59]): "We are taking a very comprehensive approach... securing our borders is more secure now than it has been in a very, very long time."
• Tulsi Gabbard ([12:12]): "These documents show that those who spoke out against the Biden administration's policies were likely to potentially resort to violent extremism."

This detailed summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights shared by Tulsi Gabbard on the Morning Wire podcast, providing listeners with a thorough understanding of the critical issues surrounding China's threats, international criminal organizations, and the internal efforts to combat governmental weaponization.