Wisconsin’s Judicial Election Decided & HHS Layoffs Begin | 4.2.25

Summary

Morning Wire Podcast Summary
Episode: Wisconsin’s Judicial Election Decided & HHS Layoffs Begin | 4.2.25
Release Date: April 2, 2025
Host/Authors: John Bickley and Georgia Howe
Source: The Daily Wire

---

Introduction

In this episode of Morning Wire, hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe delve into the most significant political developments of the day. From the record-breaking judicial election in Wisconsin to major layoffs within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and remarkable shifts in border security under the Trump administration, this episode provides a comprehensive overview of the current political landscape.

---

Wisconsin's Most Expensive Judicial Election

Overview: The focal point of today’s discussion is the recently concluded Wisconsin Supreme Court election, which has been dubbed the most expensive judicial race in U.S. history. The contest saw liberal judge Susan Crawford defeat her conservative opponent, Brad Schimmel, despite significant financial backing for the Republican side.

Key Points:

• Election Results and Funding:

  • John Bickley [00:03]: Announces the outcome, highlighting that conservatives fell short while Republicans managed to defend two House seats in special elections.
  • Cabot Phillips [00:12 & 02:00]: Celebrates the Republican victories but details the loss in the judicial race.
  • Amanda Prestigiacomoje [02:00 - 04:51]: Explains that Susan Crawford secured a decisive victory, maintaining a liberal majority in the Wisconsin Supreme Court. She also notes the passage of a voter identification measure favored by conservatives.

• Implications for Wisconsin:

  • Amanda Prestigiacomoje [02:31]: Emphasizes that the court now holds a 4-3 liberal majority, a shift influenced by previous legislative battles over abortion rights following the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
  • John Bickley [03:44]: Points out the financial stakes, mentioning that over $100 million was invested in this election, with prominent figures like George Soros and Elon Musk as key contributors.

• National Significance:

  • John Bickley [04:17]: Discusses potential long-term impacts, including the possibility of Republicans losing control of the House and ensuing political battles.
  • Amanda Prestigiacomoje [04:27]: Highlights the role of redistricting and how the liberal court's control may affect future congressional maps, potentially benefiting Democrats.

Notable Quotes:

• Georgia Howe [00:14]: "Florida Panhandle will forever be red and it'll be forever Trump country."
• Amanda Prestigiacomoje [02:00]: "We won by double digits. We're super excited. It was an incredibly powerful victory."
• John Bickley [04:38]: "So early estimates say that more than $100 million was poured into this election, making it the most expensive judicial race in US History."

---

Special Elections in Florida: GOP Success Amidst Media Skepticism

Overview: While Republicans faced setbacks in Wisconsin, they achieved significant victories in Florida's special elections, securing two House seats. These wins reinforce the GOP's presence in traditionally Democratic-held districts.

Key Points:

• Election Outcomes:

  • Amanda Prestigiacomoje [05:01 - 05:47]: Details the victories of Republican Randy Fine in Florida’s 6th District and Jimmy Petronas in the 1st District, both former seats vacated by prominent figures aligned with Trump.

• Political Context:

  • Amanda Prestigiacomoje [05:47]: Discusses the slim majority the GOP holds in the House and how these wins help stabilize their position despite being outspent by Democrats.

• Media Coverage:

  • Amanda Prestigiacomoje [05:37 - 05:52]: Criticizes mainstream media's portrayal of these victories, specifically referencing CNN’s portrayal by Jake Tapper as Democrats' wins, which contradicts the actual results.

Notable Quotes:

• John Bickley [05:42]: "PETRONAS is a strong candidate and he is, he's going to win."
• Cabot Phillips [05:47]: "Win that it should be in Ruby Red Panhandle, Florida."

---

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Layoffs Under RFK Jr.

Overview: The Trump administration, with RFK Jr. at the helm, is executing a significant downsizing of the federal government by targeting the HHS. This move has sparked intense reactions from Democrats and has significant implications for public health services.

Key Points:

• Layoffs and Budget Cuts:

  • Caroline Levitt [07:16 - 07:56]: Reports that HHS is eliminating 10,000 positions and slashing $12 billion from public health funding allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Georgia Howe [07:42]: Quotes RFK Jr., stating the administration's intent to "streamline HHS to make our agency more efficient and more effective."

• Democratic Response:

  • Caroline Levitt [07:56 - 10:31]: Details lawsuits filed by Democratic attorneys general from 23 states and the District of Columbia against the HHS cuts, led by Senator Cory Booker’s unprecedented 24-hour floor speech opposing the administration’s measures.
  • Georgia Howe [09:20]: Criticizes the administration for prioritizing billionaires and undermining federal workers, emphasizing support for VA hospital staff and other essential workers.

• Impact and Statistics:

  • Caroline Levitt [09:58 - 10:22]: Highlights the scale of the cuts, with over 56,000 confirmed cuts, 75,000 federal workers taking buyouts, and more than 171,000 targeted for layoffs, potentially reducing the federal workforce by 13%.

Notable Quotes:

• Georgia Howe [07:42]: "We're going to streamline HHS to make our agency more efficient and more effective."
• Georgia Howe [09:20]: "The people who staff our VA hospitals are not villains. The people who keep our food safe and our water clean are not villains."

---

Border Security and Immigration: Record Low Crossings and Fentanyl Trafficking

Overview: Under the Trump administration, significant strides have been made in securing the U.S. border, resulting in unprecedented declines in illegal crossings and fentanyl trafficking. These achievements have been met with both praise from supporters and criticism from opponents.

Key Points:

• Illegal Border Crossings:

  • Cabot Phillips [10:51 - 12:34]: Reports a dramatic reduction in illegal border crossings, from 137,000 in March of the previous year to just 7,000 in March this year, marking a 95% decrease. Highlights the closure of multiple shelters for illegal immigrants in California as a result.

• Fentanyl Trafficking:

  • Cabot Phillips [12:41 - 13:34]: Details a 70% drop in fentanyl seizures, from 2,000 pounds monthly last year to 590 pounds this February. Attributes this success to enhanced border security measures and the designation of cartels as terrorist organizations, deterring their operations in the U.S.

• Deportations:

  • Cabot Phillips [13:43 - 14:55]: Announces that over 100,000 deportations have been carried out since President Trump took office. The administration asserts that most deportees have criminal records, though critics argue some innocents are being wrongfully deported.

• Public and Political Reactions:

  • John Bickley [14:18]: Affirms strong public support for the administration’s deportation efforts, citing a Pew poll showing 59% approval.
  • Cabot Phillips [14:43]: Emphasizes the administration’s focus on removing criminal elements and praises the swift action against illegal immigration.

Notable Quotes:

• Cabot Phillips [10:51]: "President Trump campaigned on a promise to shut down the southern border, and no one is disputing that he has done just that."
• President Trump [11:19]: "The invasion of our country is over."
• John Bickley [14:18]: "Certainly, the American people are behind him on this effort."

---

Conclusion

The episode of Morning Wire provides a thorough examination of pivotal political events shaping the United States. From the high-stakes judicial election in Wisconsin and strategic GOP victories in Florida to the aggressive downsizing of the HHS and remarkable improvements in border security under President Trump, the discussion underscores the dynamic and often contentious nature of American politics. Hosts John Bickley and Georgia Howe, along with their expert guests, offer insightful analysis and highlight the significant implications of these developments for the future of the nation.

Stay Informed:
For those seeking alternative perspectives amid declining trust in mainstream media, Morning Wire continues to deliver timely and factual coverage on politics, culture, education, sports, and more.

---

This summary is based on the transcript provided and accurately captures the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented in the Morning Wire podcast episode released on April 2, 2025.

Transcript

[John Bickley]

The most expensive judicial election in US History is over and conservatives come up short. But Republicans successfully defend two House seats in special elections.

[Cabot Phillips]

Let it be known that this election.

[Georgia Howe]

Is a reminder that the Florida Panhandle will forever be red and it'll be forever Trump country.

[Cabot Phillips]

We won by double digits. We're super excited. It was an incredibly powerful victory.

[John Bickley]

I'm Daily Wire editor in Chief John Bickley with Georgia Howe. It's Wednesday, April 2nd, and this is Morning Wire. RFK slashes HHS spending and staff while Democrats sound the alarm and launch lawsuits.

[Georgia Howe]

We're not going to cut services. We're not going to cut Medicaid. We're not going to cut Medicare. We're going to provide services but more efficiently.

[Tim Rice]

And new data shows a massive decrease in border crossings and fentanyl trafficking.

[Georgia Howe]

We secured the border. We're down border crossing 96%.

[John Bickley]

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

[Brandon]

Hey guys, Producer Brandon here. Balance of Nature fruits and veggies provide a convenient way to get your daily whole fruits and vegetables. Using a special freeze drying process, they transform fresh produce into easy to take capsules that you can bring anywhere. While not replacing a healthy diet. Balance of Nature works alongside your other healthy habits to support your wellness journey. I take these capsules whenever I'm traveling to ensure I get my daily fruits and veggies. Head to balanceofnature.com and use promo code WIRE for 35% off your first order as a preferred customer. Plus get a free bottle of fiber and Spice. That's balanceofnature.com promo code wire.

[John Bickley]

The Wisconsin Supreme Court remains ideologically liberal after Tuesday's election, while Florida voters secured two seats for Republicans in the House. Here to discuss is Daily Wire reporter Amanda Prestigiacomoje. Amanda so let's start with Wisconsin. Republicans appear to have taken a big loss there. Tell us about that race.

[Amanda Prestigiacomo]

Right. Liberal judge Susan Crawford bested her conservative opponent Brad Schimmel for a seat on the high court. Crawford took an early lead on Tuesday night and she coasted to victory. Conservatives knew that the odds were against them late in the election, but they really threw everything they had at it, including a lot of money, but still took a loss. Now, there was also a measure on the ballot to enshrine a voter identification requirement into the state's constitution, and conservatives were pleased that that passed very easily.

[John Bickley]

Right now as to Crawford, what does her win mean for Wisconsin?

[Amanda Prestigiacomo]

Well, it means that the court has remained in liberal control. The court leaned Conservative for years. But a 2023 election flipped it to a 4. 3 Liberal majority. That election was largely impacted by the left's push to make abortion the central issue there. Right after Roe v. Wade was overturned with Crawford's win, the court sustains its four liberal justices and three conservative justices.

[John Bickley]

All right, so liberals able to maintain the status quo there. Now, this race garnered huge national attention. What were the key driving that?

[Amanda Prestigiacomo]

So the main issue was definitely congressional redistricting. And to a lesser extent, abortion came into play on redistricting. The liberal leaning court tossed GOP drawn maps and adopted new ones drawn by Democrat Gov. Tony Evers that helped Democrats flip a congressional seat in 2024. Conservatives were hoping to get back control of those maps with the Shimmerlin. But now that Crawford has won the seat, the Court will likely strike down the Republican maps again, giving Democrats a greater likelihood of winning more seats in the state.

[Tim Rice]

Our fair elections and our Supreme Court. And Wisconsin stood up and said loudly that justice does not have a price. Our courts are not for sale.

[Amanda Prestigiacomo]

Elon Musk, who poured $20 million into this race backing the conservative, he discussed the national implications of this race yesterday on Fox News.

[John Bickley]

They're going to try to gerrymander Wisconsin to remove two Republican seats. The House is currently Republican by a razor thin margin, which means that losing this judge race has good chance of causing Republicans to lose control of the House. If you lose control of the House, there will be nonstop impeachment hearings and subpoenas, and it's going to. They're going to do everything possible to stop the agenda that the American people.

[Amanda Prestigiacomo]

Voted for regarding abortion. Wisconsin had a trigger law on the books after Roe v. Wade was overturned that outlawed most abortions. That's been a legal battle in this state, and its Supreme Court will likely weigh in on that issue. So Democrats leaned in hard on that abortion messaging.

[John Bickley]

Right. Makes sense. And last question on this race, how much money ended up being spent there?

[Amanda Prestigiacomo]

So early estimates say that more than $100 million was poured into this election, making it the most expensive judicial race in US History. Billionaires George Soros for Crawford and Musk for Schimmel were key contributors.

[John Bickley]

Big names, big money. Okay. Shifting gears to the special elections in Florida. Republicans were able to win both seats after those departures for the Trump administration. Tell us about those elections.

[Amanda Prestigiacomo]

Right. Republican Randy Fine won a seat in Florida's 6th district. That spot was vacated by Mike Waltz after he was tapped by Trump for National Security Advisor. And Republican Jimmy Petronas won Matt Gaetz's old seat in the 1st District. Gates was briefly nominated by Trump for attorney general before he resigned from Congress. Those wins were scored in red districts, but this is still really good news for the gop, who have a slim majority in the House. Democrats significantly outspent Republicans both races and both Republicans still won by double digits. Still, legacy media tried to paint these GOP victories as wins for Democrats. Here's CNN's Jake Tapper.

[John Bickley]

PETRONAS is a strong candidate and he is, he's going to win.

[Amanda Prestigiacomo]

We're projecting a win for him. But Dana, it's not a 35 point.

[Cabot Phillips]

Win that it should be in Ruby Red Panhandle, Florida.

[Amanda Prestigiacomo]

Now, Trump nominated a number of congressional Republicans to his cabinet, which was kind of a risky move with such a narrow majority in the in fact, Trump just recently withdrew New York Representative Elise Stefanik as a nominee for ambassador to the United nations because of that tight majority. Just wasn't worth the risk for Trump.

[John Bickley]

Well, some wins and losses for both parties yesterday that will have consequences down the road. Amanda, thanks so much for reporting.

[Amanda Prestigiacomo]

You're welcome.

[Brandon]

Right now, Renewal by Andersen is offering this special offer during their spring savings event. Buy one window or door and get one 40% off plus an additional $45 off each window slash door with a minimum purchase of four TextWire to 400. 400 to get a free in home consultation on quality affordable windows and doors for no money down, no monthly payments and no interest for a year. That's wire to 400. 400 for this great deal on replacement windows and doors. Hurry up. These savings won't last long, so be sure to check it out by Texting. Wire to 400400 that's wire to 400400 texting privacy policy and terms and conditions posted at Textplan US texting enrolls for reoccurring automated text marketing messages. Message and data rates may apply. Reply stopped. Opt out.

[John Bickley]

The Trump administration's quest to downsize the federal government continues and Democrats are voicing their complaints.

[Tim Rice]

Here with an update is Daily Wire Deputy Managing Editor Tim Rice. So, Tim, more mass layoffs in federal agencies. What do we know now?

[Caroline Levitt]

Yeah. Good morning, Georgia. Lots of news yesterday, most of it courtesy of RFK Jr. The Department of Health and Human Services announced that it would eliminate 10,000 positions across the agency. That includes everything from the FDA and CDC to agency communication staffers and more. Now, these layoffs are obviously part of the Trump administration's goal to shrink the federal government, but they also play into RFK's vision specifically for HHS which he outlined earlier this week.

[Georgia Howe]

We're going to streamline HHS to make our agency more efficient and more effective. We're going to imbue the agency with a clear sense of mission to radically improve the health of Americans and to improve agency morale.

[Caroline Levitt]

In addition to cutting staff, Kennedy slashed around $12 billion in public health funding that had been allocated to state and local entities during the COVID pandemic. In a statement, HHS Communications Director Andrew Nixon said that the COVID 19 pandemic is over and HHS will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago. In response, the Democratic attorneys general in 23 states and the District of Columbia announced that they're suing Kennedy and the department, alleging that these cuts were unlawful. Senator Cory Booker also railed against the Trump administration's health care cuts in a 24 hour long floor speech that now broke the record for longest ever floor seat in Senate history. Yes, I'm a Democrat and I admit that our health care system needs so much help and so much reform.

[Brandon]

One out of every three of our.

[John Bickley]

Tax dollars is being spent on health care.

[Brandon]

That's ridiculous.

[Georgia Howe]

And what are we getting from it?

[Caroline Levitt]

A society that's getting more and more sick.

[Tim Rice]

So it sounds like Booker agrees that HHS is bloated and inefficient, but he disagrees with making cuts.

[Caroline Levitt]

Yeah, that's right. It really all comes down to layoffs. Booker's speech was broadly about stopping cuts to Medicare and Social Security, but he used a lot of his time to rail against Trump, Elon Musk and Doge's efforts to downsize the federal government. Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock launched a similar attack when he stepped in to give Booker a break.

[Georgia Howe]

The administration is working for billionaires. They're working for people like Elon Musk. Health care is a human right. Health care is basic. And while we're speaking about health, we've got to cheer on our federal workers who are keeping us healthy. And there are folks in this administration who say that they want to make them the villains. That's what Russell Vogt said. The people who staff our VA hospitals are not villains. The people who keep our food safe and our water clean are not villains. The people who keep our military bases operating are not villains. And so we stand with them in this moment.

[Caroline Levitt]

So I think it's fair to say that Democrats are panicking because Doge is working more quickly and effectively than they thought it would. The HHS layoffs bring us to more than 56,000 confirmed cuts. According to the New York Times, 75,000 federal workers also took buyouts, and more than 171,000 have been targeted for layoffs. If things keep going at this rate, we're looking at around 13% of the federal government being slashed.

[Tim Rice]

Well, I think everyone is shocked at both the speed and the scope of Doge's work. Tim, thanks for reporting.

[Caroline Levitt]

You bet.

[Tim Rice]

Illegal crossings at the southern border continued to plummet last month, hitting the lowest point in decades. The news comes as President Trump continues to deport criminal aliens at a frenetic pace.

[John Bickley]

Daily Wire senior editor Cabot Phillips is here to break down the numbers and what it means for Americans. Hey, Cabot. So this new data is rather stunning. What are we looking at here?

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah. President Trump campaigned on a promise to shut down the southern border, and no one is disputing that he has done just that. In February, his first full month back in office, illegal crossings plummeted to 8,300. That was the lowest number in modern American history. And according to a new report from Homeland Security, in March, there were barely 7,000 illegal crossings. For context, during the same month last year, that number was 137,000. So nearly 20 times higher.

[John Bickley]

Yeah.

[Cabot Phillips]

Zooming out. During President Biden's four years in office, there were about a quarter million illegal border encounters every single month. If these current numbers hold, President Trump's first year in office will see a 95% reduction in illegal immigration. And the total number of illegal entries would be at its lowest point since at least 1968. President Trump celebrated that news on Truth Social writing, quote, the invasion of our country is over. Here's White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt.

[Caroline Levitt]

Thanks to President Trump's leadership, Border Patrol.

[Tim Rice]

Agents are now back to doing the jobs they signed up for securing the border, rather than serving as travel agents for illegal aliens.

[Cabot Phillips]

Border crossings have fallen so rapidly that multiple shelters serving illegal immigrants in California are now sitting empty. A number have even closed down altogether. And what makes that turnaround even more remarkable is that it came with no new legislation from Congress. The White House was quick to remind folks that Democrats had told the American people the only way to secure the border was by passing comprehensive immigration reform in Congress. We heard that line a lot to that point. This clip of President Biden from last February was making the rounds on social media.

[Caroline Levitt]

Every day between now and November, the.

[Georgia Howe]

American people are going to know that the only reason the border is not.

[John Bickley]

Secure is Donald Trump. Now, it's not just illegal immigration falling. It's also a decline in fentanyl. Tell us about that.

[Cabot Phillips]

Yeah, this is another dramatic drop. So last year, agents at the southern border seized an average of 2,000 pounds of fentanyl every month. But this February, that number fell 70% to just 590 pounds as traffickers and smugglers were forced to grapple with the fact that they were more likely to be caught. Whitehall says that progress is coming not just because of the influx of agents and military personnel they've deployed to the border, but because agents who are already in place are no longer spending their days processing thousands of illegal aliens who are coming through each day. According to Derek Maltz, the acting administrator of the dea, cartels, quote, got very concerned when Trump took office and opted to send fentanyl elsewhere instead of America. In his words, quote, it became a business decision. And remember, because President Trump designated cartels as terrorist organizations, they now face the threat of direct military action. So, you know, you can see why they would be incentivized to back off.

[John Bickley]

Yeah. Indeed. Now, this all comes as the Trump administration continues to deport criminal illegal aliens, which has drawn a lot of controversy. What's the latest there?

[Cabot Phillips]

So, according to a report in the New York Post, the Trump administration has already carried out more than 100,000 deportations since inauguration Day. The pace of those removals has been so fast that ICE is now asking Congress for additional funding so they can make enough room for all those awaiting deportation. For their part, the White House says the majority of those removed from the country had criminal records or were known gang members. But many on the left have criticized that effort, saying some folks have been deported to foreign prisons despite having no criminal record. That is beyond breaking our immigration laws. Here's Press Secretary Levitt responding to those allegations.

[Tim Rice]

The president made it incredibly clear to the American public that there would be a mass deportation campaign of not just foreign terrorists, but also illegal criminal aliens who have been wreaking havoc on American communities. And shame on you and shame on the mainstream media for trying to cover for these individuals.

[Cabot Phillips]

And we talked yesterday about how polling shows Americans appear to have soured a bit on Trump's economic strategy, but he still remains very strong on this topic. Latest findings from Pew, for example, show 59% approval for his plan to deport people living in the US Illegally.

[John Bickley]

Certainly, the American people are behind him on this effort. Kevin, thanks so much for reporting.

[Cabot Phillips]

Anytime.

[Tim Rice]

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