Ukraine Mineral Deal & Trump’s Gold Card Program | 2.27.25

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary

Episode: Ukraine Mineral Deal & Trump’s Gold Card Program
Release Date: February 27, 2025
Hosts: John Bickley and Georgia Howe
Co-Host: Cabot Phillips
Guest: Colin Anderson, Executive Editor of the Free Beacon

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1. Ukraine Mineral Deal: A Strategic Compensation for U.S. Support

Overview:
The episode delves into the groundbreaking agreement between the United States and Ukraine, brokered by President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky. This deal aims to reimburse American taxpayers for years of financial and military aid through access to Ukraine's rich natural resources.

Key Points:

• Negotiation Dynamics:
  Cabot Phillips discusses the tense negotiations that spanned three turbulent years. Initially, Zelensky proposed a minerals deal, seeking continued U.S. support post-war in exchange for access to Ukraine's natural resources. After Trump's election, he pressed for a substantial compensation package totaling $500 billion in oil, gas, and rare earth minerals.

• Deal Specifics:
  According to Mike Waltz, the deal includes the establishment of a joint reconstruction investment fund managed by both nations, with 50% of revenues from new energy and mineral projects directed to this fund. The agreement also paves the way for American companies to gain direct access to Ukraine's vast deposits of graphite, lithium, uranium, and titanium—resources critical for high-tech industries and reducing dependence on China, which currently dominates 90% of rare earth mineral production.

• Security Guarantees:
  While Ukraine receives substantial financial and military aid, questions remain about the security guarantees from the U.S. The New York Times reports that the deal may include support for Ukraine's security needs to ensure lasting peace, potentially involving agreements with European allies. However, Trump maintains that the economic incentives alone are sufficient to ensure Ukraine's security.

Notable Quotes:

• John Bickley [02:44]: "It could be a trillion dollar deal. It could be whatever, but it's rare earths and other things. We want to get that money back. We're helping a country through a very, very big problem."
• Mike Waltz [03:41]: Elaborates on the structure and strategic importance of the mineral agreements.

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2. Trump’s Gold Card Program: Revolutionizing U.S. Immigration

Overview:
President Trump introduced a new immigration initiative dubbed the "Gold Card" during his first cabinet meeting of the second term. This program aims to create a fast-track immigration pathway by offering permanent U.S. residency for a substantial financial investment.

Key Points:

• Program Details:
  The Gold Card program is set to replace the longstanding EB5 visa program. Unlike the EB5’s $1 million investment with minimal oversight, the Gold Card demands a $5 million investment, promising better oversight and more substantial contributions to the U.S. economy.

• Economic and Business Benefits:
  The initiative is designed not only to attract high-net-worth individuals but also to enable U.S. businesses to recruit top-tier international talent seamlessly. President Trump highlighted scenarios where companies struggle to retain top graduates from prestigious institutions due to immigration constraints, stating the Gold Card would alleviate such issues.

• Debt Reduction:
  Trump emphasized that the revenue generated from the Gold Card program would contribute significantly to reducing the United States' national debt, which stands at nearly $37 trillion.

Notable Quotes:

• John Bickley [07:05]: "The EB5 program, which has been around for many years, had investment of a million dollars into projects in America. And those projects were often suspect. They didn't really work out. There wasn't any oversight of it. And so for $1 million investment, you got a visa and then you came into the country and ended up with a green card."
• John Bickley [08:08]: "I get calls from, as an example, companies where they want to hire the number one student at a school... I want to be able to have that person stay in the country."

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3. Illegal Alien Registry: A Controversial Immigration Strategy

Overview:
The Trump administration proposed the creation of an illegal alien registry, seeking to impose criminal penalties on undocumented immigrants who have never interacted with the government.

Key Points:

• Registration Requirements:
  The proposed Alien Registration Act mandates that individuals present in the U.S. illegally must register with federal authorities within 30 days. This process includes fingerprinting and public declaration of their status.

• Legal Basis and Implications:
  To legitimize this registry, the administration intends to reference a 1940 law initially designed to identify suspected communists. However, past attempts to enforce such registries in the 1960s were deemed too costly and ineffective.

• Potential Outcomes:
  Registered individuals may avoid criminal charges and fines, with assistance provided for relocation back to their home countries. The administration posits that this approach offers a pathway for future re-entry and integration into the American dream.

Notable Quotes:

• Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem [09:11]: Details the specifics and intended outcomes of the Alien Registration Act.

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4. Anti-Doge Protests and Media Coverage: Unmasking Astroturfing Efforts

Overview:
The podcast examines the orchestrated protests against Republican members of Congress, specifically targeting figures like Doge and Elon Musk. A recent investigative report by the Free Beacon reveals the involvement of well-funded liberal organizations orchestrating these demonstrations, a detail largely omitted by major media outlets.

Key Points:

• Organizers Behind the Protests:
  Colin Anderson from the Free Beacon identifies Indivisible and Move On as primary orchestrators of the anti-Doge protests. These groups publicly planned and promoted the protests, providing toolkits and explicit instructions to their members.

• Media Omissions:
  Major news outlets such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and CBS News failed to acknowledge the roles of Indivisible and Move On in organizing the protests. Instead, they portrayed the demonstrations as spontaneous grassroots efforts, downplaying any orchestrated backing.

• Case Study - McCormick Town Hall:
  A protest at Representative Rich McCormick’s town hall in Georgia was heavily covered by CBS News without mentioning the involvement of liberal activists like Maggie Goldman, a known Democratic contributor and volunteer coordinator for Pete Buttigieg's campaign.

• Public Perception and Polling Data:
  Polls indicate significant public support for efforts targeting government waste and fraud, aligning with Musk and Doge’s initiatives. However, focus groups reveal mixed opinions, with some skepticism about the protests' grassroots authenticity.

Notable Quotes:

• Colin Anderson [10:34]: "There were two groups primarily behind these protests, first being Indivisible, the second being Move On."
• Colin Anderson [12:19]: Highlights the selective reporting by CBS News regarding the true nature of the protests.
• Colin Anderson [13:39]: Discusses polling data showing public support for anti-waste initiatives tied to Musk and Doge.

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Conclusion

In this episode of Morning Wire, hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe, alongside Cabot Phillips, dissect pivotal developments in U.S. politics and policy. From the strategic Ukraine Mineral Deal aimed at reimbursing American taxpayers and reducing dependence on China, to President Trump’s ambitious Gold Card immigration program designed to attract elite international talent and mitigate national debt, the discussions are both comprehensive and insightful. Additionally, the episode sheds light on the manipulation of public protests by established liberal organizations, challenging the narratives perpetuated by mainstream media. This thorough analysis provides listeners with a nuanced understanding of current events shaping the nation's future.

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Notable References:

• Guest: Colin Anderson, Executive Editor of the Free Beacon
• Key Figures Mentioned: President Trump, President Zelensky, Mike Waltz, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem

Timestamp Highlights:

• Ukraine Mineral Deal: [02:44] - John Bickley
• Gold Card Program: [07:05] - Cabot Phillips, [08:08] - John Bickley
• Illegal Alien Registry: [09:11] - Kristi Noem
• Anti-Doge Protests: [10:34] - Colin Anderson, [12:19] - Colin Anderson

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This summary encapsulates the primary discussions and insights from the February 27, 2025, episode of Morning Wire, offering a detailed overview for those who haven't tuned in.

Transcript

[Georgia Howe]

Trump hammers out a deal with Zelensky designed to pay back Americans for years of financial and military support.

[John Bickley]

The American taxpayer now is going to get their money back.

[Cabot Phillips]

Plus, we break down the latest on the negotiations.

[Georgia Howe]

I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire editor in chief John Bickley. It's Thursday, February 27th, and this is Morning Wire. President Trump announces a new fast track immigration program at his first cabinet meeting.

[John Bickley]

You have a green card. This is a gold card. We're going to be putting a price on that card of about $5 million.

[Georgia Howe]

Will this help pay down our national debt?

[Cabot Phillips]

And several legacy media outlets are caught misleading their audience on viral anti doge protests.

[Georgia Howe]

Thanks for waking up with MORNING wire. Stay tuned. We have the news you need to know. Your personal data, from contact details to family information, is constantly collected and sold online by data brokers. There's more out there than you'd expect. That's why I personally recommend Deleteme. Deleteme is a subscription service that removes your personal info from hundreds of data brokers. Deleteme sends you regular personalized privacy reports showing what info they found, where they found it and what they removed. Take control of your data and keep your private life private by signing up for Deleteme now at a special discount for our listeners today. Get 20% off your delete me plan by texting wire to 64000 text wire to 64000. That's wire to 64000 message and data rates may apply. See terms for details. The US And Ukraine have reached a potentially game changing agreement coming to terms on a long awaited mineral deal.

[Cabot Phillips]

Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips has been tracking this story and joins us now. Hey, Cabot. So Trump and Zelensky are finally ironing things out here. We'll get to the specifics of what. How did we get to this point?

[Mike Waltz]

Yeah, it's been a turbulent three years, John. So last year, as Trump campaigned on a promise to cut back funding for Ukraine and ended the war quickly, Vladimir Zelensky threw out the idea of a minerals deal where the US Would get a piece of Ukraine's natural resources in exchange for continued military support and security guarantees after the war ended. Now, once Trump won, he took him up on the idea, saying America deserved to be paid back to the tune of $500 billion in the form of oil, gas and rare earth mineral contracts. Zelensky initially balked at those figures, saying he would not, quote, sell his country. But the two kept negotiating, as Trump loves to do and ultimately reached A deal. Trump says that he will meet with Zelensky on Friday to sign the final terms. Here he is at the White House Wednesday.

[John Bickley]

It could be a trillion dollar deal. It could be whatever, but it's rare earths and other things. We want to get that money back. We're helping a country through a very, very big problem.

[Cabot Phillips]

So the big question, what exactly is in this deal?

[Mike Waltz]

Well, both sides have been tight lipped on the specific numbers, but according to Ukraine's prime minister, it would establish a, quote, reconstruction investment fund that would be jointly managed by the two countries. Moving forward, 50% of revenues from new oil, gas and mineral projects would go into that fund. The deal is also expected to grant American companies more direct access to the country's mineral reserves, which is crucial. Remember, Ukraine has some of the world's largest deposits of graphite, lithium, uranium and titanium, all of which are critical for producing high tech batteries, electronics and weapons. Now, at the moment, China is responsible for around 90% of rare earth mineral production. So this deal could make the US Far less reliant on Beijing.

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah, another key priority of the Trump administration. And what did the Ukrainians get from this?

[Mike Waltz]

Trump says they've already gotten their part of the deal in the form of a hundred billion plus dollars in military and financial aid. But it does appear the US Will also agree to some form of security guarantee. According to the New York Times, the agreement says that in exchange for mineral rights, the U.S. would, quote, support Ukraine's effort to obtain security guarantees needed to establish lasting peace. That could mean Trump working out an agreement with European allies where they would supply boots on the ground after the war to prevent Russia from invading again. But it's worth noting Trump has been hesitant to offer too much in the way of a security guarantee. He's argued that the economic deal is all the assurance that Zelensky should need, that the US Is incentivized to keep Ukraine secure from Russia. Here's National Security Adviser Mike Waltz to that point on Fox.

[Colin Anderson]

We presented the Ukrainians really an incredible and historic opportunity to have the United States of America co invest with Ukraine, invest in its economy, invest in its natural resources, and really become a partner in Ukraine's future in a way that's sustainable, but also would be, I think, the best security guarantee they could ever hope for, much more than another pallet of ammunition.

[Cabot Phillips]

Now, this all comes as Trump is working on separate negotiations with Moscow to end the war there. What's the latest on that front?

[Mike Waltz]

So the White House says they're still hammering out the details for a sit down with Trump and Putin. President says he's confident they'll finalize a deal that will be favorable for all parties. And that deal could also include some economic partnerships regarding oil and rare earth minerals. Trump said they've been, quote, trying to do some economic development deals with Moscow. Russia has been largely shut out from the global economy since their invasion of Ukraine. And it's clear Trump wants to use that economic leverage to bring Putin to the table. That negotiating, though, has drawn criticism from many on the left who say Trump is playing into Russia's hand. Trump's cabinet convened for the first time yesterday. We'll hear more on that later. And VP Vance had some strong words in response.

[Cabot Phillips]

We're not going to do the negotiation.

[Mike Waltz]

In public with the American media. He's going to do it in private.

[Cabot Phillips]

With the president of Russia, with the president of Ukraine and with other leaders. Every single time the president engages in diplomacy, you guys preemptively accuse him of conceding to Russia. He hasn't conceded anything to anyone. He's doing the job of a diplomat.

[Mike Waltz]

So we'll be watching for that reported meeting between Trump and Zelensky on Friday. A lot going on between these two.

[Cabot Phillips]

Countries and it'd be a huge if they could make a deal to end this war. It's been three years now. Kevin, thanks for reporting.

[Mike Waltz]

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[Cabot Phillips]

President Trump previewed a new immigration program at the first Cabinet meeting of his second term on Wednesday. The Trump administration plans to offer a gold card that grants permanent U.S. residency for $5 million.

[Georgia Howe]

Daily Wire reporter Tim Pierce is here to talk about the high priced Express pass to US Citizenship. So Tim, what are the details of the new program?

[Cabot Phillips]

Well, the aim is to use it to replace the EB5 program. That's a program that was launched in the 90s to spur job creation and investment from foreigners in exchange for a green card. Here's Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick explaining it during Wednesday's Cabinet meeting.

[John Bickley]

So the EB5 program, which has been around for many years, had investment of a million dollars into projects in America. And those projects were often suspect. They didn't really work out. There wasn't any oversight of it. And so for $1 million investment, you got a visa and then you came into the country and ended up with a green card. So the idea is we will have a proper business. We will modify the EB5 agreement. Christy and I are working on it together.

[Georgia Howe]

So the idea is this would give better oversight than the current EB5 program.

[Cabot Phillips]

Correct.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, there's also a pro business angle, though. What's in it for businesses?

[Cabot Phillips]

Right. The program can be used by companies to recruit top tier talent internationally. Here's President Trump talking about that.

[John Bickley]

I get calls from, as an example, companies where they want to hire the number one student at a school. A person comes from India, China, Japan, lots of different places. And they go to Harvard, the Wharton School of Finance, they go to Yale, they go to all great schools and they graduate number one in their class. And they made job offers, but the offer is immediately rescinded because you have no idea whether or not that person can stay in the country. I want to be able to have that person stay in the country. These companies can go and buy a gold card and they can use it as a matter of recruitment.

[Cabot Phillips]

The president said the money made from this program will be used to pay down some of the United States nearly $37 trillion debt.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, another immigration initiative is the illegal alien registry. What would that look like?

[Cabot Phillips]

Sure. So the Trump administration wants to create a criminal penalty for those illegal aliens who are in the country and have never interacted with the government. Here's Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Fox News.

[Georgia Howe]

The Alien Registration act says that within 30 days of being in this country illegally, someone must register with the federal government. They will be fingerprinted. They must announce that they are here. And if they do so, they can avoid criminal charges and fines. And we will help them relocate right back to their home country. And what this does is provide them an opportunity to come back someday and to be a part of the American dream. Now, is it actually legal to create a registry like that?

[Cabot Phillips]

The Trump administration would go to a law passed in 1940. That law created an immigration registry to help catch suspected communists. The authority fell out of use in the 60s, though, after lawmakers found the program to be too costly and not of much benefit.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, interesting to see what happens with that. Tim, thanks for reporting.

[Cabot Phillips]

Good to be on.

[Georgia Howe]

Legacy outlets have published headlines over anti Doge protests targeting Republican members of Congress. But a recent investigative report from the Free Beacon exposes the Astroturf funding behind the demonstrations.

[Cabot Phillips]

Joining us with more is the author of that report, Colin Anderson, executive editor of the Free Beacon. Colin, first of all, thank you so much for joining us.

[Colin Anderson]

Absolutely. Thank you for having me.

[Cabot Phillips]

So your report at the Free Beacon has generated a lot of buzz. We wanted to talk to you about it. What did you find when you looked into these anti Doge demonstrations? Who was behind the protests?

[Colin Anderson]

So there were two groups primarily behind these protests, first being Indivisible, the second being Move On. They are very well funded liberal organizations who have been organizing protests like this for some time. And what was interesting in this case is these protests occurred during the Congressional recess, the House recess. They just came back in session and move On. And Indivisible were very public and very forthcoming in the fact that they were planning these protests. They had their own statements released. They had toolkits that they put out for their members on how to find these town halls, what to say when they got to them, the whole works. They also planted a story with the Associated Press in which their leaders said very explicitly that we are ramping up these protests during the House recess and here's what we're going to be doing and you should watch for this. And so it was very telling then when we saw this wave of mainstream media coverage come out on these protests that portrayed them in a very different light and alluded to sort of the broad and bipartisan backlash that Doge and Elon Musk were generating through their efforts to slash government spending. And you did not see mention of these groups and organizations driving them. What was so interesting about it to me is, is how public these groups were in touting their role in these protests even before they happened. And yet you don't see mention of these things in these stories.

[Cabot Phillips]

Now, you name three different outlets, the New York Times, Washington Post and CBS News. So really the tip top of the legacy media in terms of influence, they specifically omitted this very clear, easy to discover detail in terms of the funding and promotion of these protests, correct?

[Colin Anderson]

That's right. Yeah. And there were some really interesting examples, particularly in CBS News. The protest in the town hall that went particularly viral was a rich McCormick Town hall in Georgia, particularly in suburban Atlanta. He's in a deep red district. And there were some very sort of chaotic videos that came from it of folks shouting him down. And CBS quoted one of the organizers, her name is Maggie Goldman, and they quote her essentially just as a McCormick constituent. She says that she brought lots of folks to the town town hall. CBS doesn't explicitly say that these folks are Democrats or liberals or liberal activists. And yet if you just sort of google around, it's very obvious. You know, Maggie Goldman was a volunteer coordinator for Pete Buttigieg's presidential campaign. She contributes routinely to Democrats. She ran for her county commission in this area as a Democrat on an agenda of inclusivity. And so that's what was so stunning to me going through this coverage, is this was really low hanging fruit in terms of the allegiances and the affiliations of these people. And it was either ignored or deliberately omitted.

[Cabot Phillips]

Right. Look, the larger context here is that the polling pretty consistently shows a lot of support right now for not just Trump, but also Musk's efforts. What have you seen in terms of the polling data, the focus groups? How are people responding so far to Doge's actions?

[Colin Anderson]

Sure. On the, on the polling side, it seems like as of now, the efforts are generally supported, particularly when they're worded as targeting waste and fraud. We've seen a little bit of a mixed bag in the focus groups. There was an Axios focus group, for example, that featured swing voters in Arizona. And of these swing voters, there were 11 in total. Eight of them proved of Musk's efforts in the administration. And several of them particularly expressed the view that waste, fraud and abuse are so prevalent in the federal government that Doge should go about slashing spending without really hurting core services. The left seems to feel very confident in this case that regardless of whether these protests are grassroots or astroturf, that Elon and Doge is sort of this rallying figure that is uniting and exciting their members in a way that perhaps they weren't fired up before. I'm not so sure that that's the case yet.

[Cabot Phillips]

It does appear that Musk has become the new strategic target of the left after the repeated failures to bring Trump down. Colin, thank you so much for joining us.

[Colin Anderson]

Yeah, really appreciate it. Always happy to.

[Georgia Howe]

Thanks for waking up with us. And if you enjoyed what you heard this morning, please consider sharing this episode with a.