Transcript

Trump’s Economy Pays Dividends & SCOTUS Weighs Women’s Sports

From Morning Wire · Episode page · Watch on YouTube

· 17 min · 3,013 words · 44 timestamped sections

This is the full, timestamped transcript of "Trump’s Economy Pays Dividends & SCOTUS Weighs Women’s Sports", an episode of Morning Wire published January 13, 2026 (17 min, about 3,013 words). It mentions 6 people, works and ideas, including Title IX, US Federal Reserve, Alliance Defending Freedom, Tim Palenti.

What this episode is about

The discussion highlights the economic improvements under President Trump's policies, marked by declining gas prices and mortgage rates alongside a surging GDP, while also addressing the Supreme Court's examination of state policies on men's participation in women's sports. Additionally, it touches on political unrest in Minnesota regarding anti-ICE protests and a significant fraud scandal, emphasizing public discontent with the state's leadership.

Key takeaways

  • As gas prices plunge, Americans cheer, while politicians gleefully dance on the economic grave they once forecast.
  • Mortgage rates dip below 6%, proving Trump's economic policies may just be the unexpected fairy tale we didn't see coming.
  • A GDP growth prediction of 5.1%? Looks like the economy is throwing a surprise party while we were all worried!
  • Investigation into Jerome Powell intensifies—because political feuds are now a part-time job for the Fed chair.
  • In Minnesota, a scandal brews—67% of citizens think their governor needs a new pair of glasses for oversight.

Who speaks in this episode?

What is discussed, and when

  1. – 3:00: HelloFresh
  2. – 9:00: Alliance Defending Freedom
  3. – 15:00: Tim Palenti

Notable quotes from "Trump’s Economy Pays Dividends & SCOTUS Weighs Women’s Sports"

  • Start the new year with meals that actually make you feel good. Our sponsor, HelloFresh, takes the stress right out of cooking so you can enjoy delicious homemade dinners every…
    about HelloFresh · at
  • Because they raise nearly identical legal questions. And Kristen Wagner, who is the president and CEO of Alliance Defending Freedom, is helping to defend these states laws. And…
    about Alliance Defending Freedom · at
  • Former Minnesota Governor Tim Palenti joins us now to discuss the issues gripping his state. Governor, first of all, thank you so much for coming on the show.
    about Tim Palenti · at

Who and what is mentioned in this episode?

People

Companies & orgs

Concepts & topics

Sponsors

Full transcript with timestamps

Gas prices and mortgage rates drop while the GDP surges. In just one short year, President Trump has delivered a historic economic turnaround to put our country back on the path to prosperity.

The Trump administration touts the president's policies while also launching a probe into Jerome Pal. This unprecedented action should be seen in the broader context of the administration's threats and ongoing pressure.

I'm Georgia How with Daily Wire executive editor John Bickley. It's Tuesday, January 13th, and this is Morning Wire. The Supreme Court takes up the issue of men competing in women's sports, addressing the question, can states ban it? We are fighting for the bare minimum here. The bare minimum. Can we as women call ourselves champions?

And as the turmoil in Minnesota continues between anti-ICE protests and the massive fraud scandal, we speak to the former governor who calls it a reckoning for the state.

Something like 67% of motans do not feel that Governor Walls did enough to foresee and prevent the fraud.

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

Start the new year with meals that actually make you feel good. Our sponsor, HelloFresh, takes the stress right out of cooking so you can enjoy delicious homemade dinners every single night. HelloFresh brings people together with meals that are simple and rewarding, even on your busiest week nights. With over 100 mouthwatering recipes each week, from seasonal favorites to global dishes like barbecue pork burgers, you'll find bigger portions that ensure nobody leaves the table hungry. Take it from me, I've ordered everything from Hawaiian pizza and nacho crunch burgers to lamb chops and fillets. And no matter the meal, it's always top-notch and simple to prep.

Plus, you can choose from over 35 high protein weekly recipes, including new Mediterranean and GLP1 friendly options, all made with wholesome ingredients like sustained, sourced seafood, and 100% antibiotic and hormone-free chicken. Go to hellofresh.com/morningwire10fm to get 10 free meals and a free zilling knife on your third box. Offer only valid while supplies last. Free meals applied as a discount on first box. New subscribers only varies by plan. One year after retaking the presidency, the White House says Donald Trump's economic and domestic agenda is starting to pay off.

Daily Wire senior editor Kat Phillips is here to break down some of the latest numbers that are pretty exciting for the American people. So Kabat, where do you want to start?

Well, President Trump has urged patience with the American people since winning re-election, telling folks that his agenda would take time to start paying off. And based on some of the latest numbers that are starting to roll in, that prediction looks accurate. So let's start with GDP growth. When President Trump launched his trade war, the consensus among most economists and also a lot of Democratic lawmakers was that it would tank the economy and really stall GDP growth. But each month, the data continues to defy those expectations. So at the beginning of 2025, the US GDP shrank by half a percentage point, really setting off alarm bells across Washington that a recession was looming. But quarter 2 then saw 3.8% growth. By quarter 3, it was up to 4.3% and based on the latest projections from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, GDP growth in the final quarter of 2025 will be a stunning 5.1%.

White House economist Kevin Hasset was jubilant at that news. Here he is taking a victory lap on Monday.

Right now I'm looking at the output numbers and we got GDP now north of 5% in the fourth quarter after two 4%s the previous quarter. So, I think you got to say that Trump policies are really working.

And from there, there's plenty of other good stuff to go on. On Monday, for example, gas prices fell for the seventh straight week. The average price at the pump is now $2.79. That is the lowest mark we've seen in more than 5 years. And in 19 states, Americans are paying less than $2 a gallon. Unfortunately, not here in Tennessee, but they're moving in the right direction. Now, on the housing front, mortgage rates just fell below 6% for the first time in nearly 3 years, while the cost of rent nationwide has now fallen 5 months in a row. That comes after the president directed Fanny May and Freddy Mack to purchase $200 billion in mortgagebacked securities, driving those interest rates even lower. And then you have inflation, which has undoubtedly been heading in the right direction over the last few months. The Labor Department will release their latest numbers for December, showing where we are later this morning. And if

those rates hold steady below 3% in the 2.5 2.8 range, there is a very good chance that we'll see further rate cuts from the Fed in 2026, which obviously would provide even more relief for American consumers and borrowers.

Now, those rate cuts though are in the hands of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who has found himself in the headlines this week. What's going on with him? Yeah, as we've discussed quite a bit on this show, President Trump uh has made no secret of his disdain for Powell, who he is accused of intentionally keeping interest rates high to harm him politically. And now that feud has escalated as Powell is under federal investigation by the DOJ. So, the investigation centers on a renovation of the Fed's headquarters in Washington, which has gone well over budget and cost taxpayers more than $2.5 billion. The Trump administration is digging now to find out whether Powell lied to Congress under oath when asked about the cost of the project. And in response, he issued a video statement claiming he was being targeted politically over disagreements with Donald Trump. This new threat is not about my testimony last June or

about the renovation of the Federal Reserve buildings. It is not about Congress's oversight role. Those are pretexts. The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public rather than following the preferences of the president. Now, for his part, President Trump denied that the investigation was politically motivated. He said that he quote didn't know anything about the probe. Here's White House press secretary Caroline Levitt elaborating on Monday.

One thing for sure, the president's made it quite clear is Jerome Powell is bad at his job. As for whether or not or not Jerome Powell is a criminal, that's an answer the Department of Justice is going to have to find out, and it looks like they intend to find that out.

Now, remember, Jerome Powell's term is set to expire in May, regardless of the findings of this investigation, but he could be forced out even sooner, depending on what the DOJ discovers.

Well, regardless, a lot of good news for everyday Americans. Cabbid, thanks for reporting.

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The Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments today in two highstakes cases that could have sweeping consequences for women's sports and state authority.

Joining us with the details is Daily Wire Culture reporter Megan Basham. So, Megan, we've been closely tracking these particular cases after the high court agreed to take them on, but can you just remind us what exactly are these cases about and what's at stake here?

Yeah, Georgia. So, these are two paired cases out of West Virginia and Idaho. And what they center on is whether states can enforce laws that keep biological males out of women's sports. So, in Idaho's Little V Hox, Lindseay Hickox, who is a man who identifies as a woman, is challenging Idaho's Fairness in Women's Sports Act that bans biological men from participating in women's athletic events. In the West Virginia case, a male middle school athlete known as BPJ is asking the court to invalidate a similar law. So, the court consolidated these two cases because they raise nearly identical legal questions. And Kristen Wagner, who is the president and CEO of Alliance Defending Freedom, is helping to defend these states laws. And she says the impact that the court's ruling can have here on women will be enormous. The issue that will be before the court is whether states have the right to make

legitimate biological differences and and particularly in athletics as a start whether we have the right to equal opportunities under federal law and the right to fair play and privacy.

Now what are the legal arguments that the court is expected to hear on each side?

Yeah. So there's two major claims that this is going to be turning on. The first involves Title 9, and that's a federal law that was passed more than 50 years ago to guarantee equal educational opportunities for women, including athletics and sports. So, supporters of these state laws argue that Title 9 was designed to protect women, not to erase sex-based distinctions. But first, the Biden administration and now the plaintiffs in these two cases argue that the sex discrimination that Title 9 bans should also include quote unquote gender identity. So they say that these laws conflict with Title 9. And then the second argument centers on the 14th amendment's equal protection clause.

Here's what Wagner said. The question before the court is, can the states make biological distinctions on the athletic field? Are those differences important and do they matter? And the question is obviously yes. Common sense tells us that, but so does the science. And again, this isn't just theoretical, Georgia. Uh these real female athletes from both states are arguing that they have lost podium spots, championships, and even scholarship opportunities. And data from the UN does show that men have won nearly 900 women's medals globally.

Now, what about science and what it tells us about sex differences? Are we expecting to hear arguments along those lines?

Yes, absolutely we are. So, Madison Kenyon is petitioning the court in this Idaho case. She's a former runner who we also spoke to who competed against a biological male early in her college career. and she stresses that sports opened a lot of doors for her educationally and her career and she really wants to ensure that future generations of women have access to these same opportunities. She says that the physical differences between her and her male competitors were undeniable, overwhelming, and demoralizing. Running is a mental sport. If you think you've lost before you start you then you have.

And so to step on the line with a male athlete in the women's division of running, it's deflating. It's defeating. It ruins the integrity of women's sports and it's not fair.

Now, what are the potential outcomes from a ruling here? What sort of downstream effects will it have?

Yeah. So, if the court rules against these two states, it could invalidate protections for women with similar laws at the state level in 27 different states. But a win for them will affirm that states do have the right to enact these laws and certainly I think that the implications will go far beyond sports. Well, we are going to continue to monitor here on this show. Megan, thanks for reporting.

Yeah, my pleasure. And for those who haven't listened yet, you can also hear more from both Maddie and Kristen Wagner in an episode we aired on Sunday. The protests gripping Minneapolis over the last few days have come amid federal investigations into widescale fraud, which President Trump is now sending in even more agents to investigate.

Former Minnesota Governor Tim Palenti joins us now to discuss the issues gripping his state. Governor, first of all, thank you so much for coming on the show.

Happy to do it. Good to be with you. First, let's talk about the immediate context of the protests that we've seen over the last few days. The mayor of Minneapolis has told ICE to get out of the state. In less kind words than that, Governor Walls has demanded that the administration leave Minnesota alone. What is your take on the presence of ICE in the state? Well, ICE has a duty to fulfill and that is the enforcement of our immigrations and customs and border laws in this country. We're a nation on the rule of law. So, the idea that they're supposed to just abdicate a big piece of territory in the United States is ridiculous. And one of the reasons that this became so dangerous is because stupidly the city of Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota declared themselves sanctuary cities. So the local officials with their usual capabilities don't protect the ICE officers with perimeters, other reinforcements. And so

ICE is sort of out there by themselves. And it is a terrible formula and set of dynamics on the ground. Preceding this fallout from the ICE incident, the state has become a national focus over these new revelations about really jaw-dropping levels of fraud. Are things as bad as they seem in the state with the fraud situation?

Yes. And the nonpartisan US attorney's office in Minneapolis, by the way, beginning their investigations under a Democratic administration, the Biden administration, recently said that this could tally up to $9 billion or more. And if that turns out to be true, this could be the largest theft or fraud of public money in the history of our country. So it is a big deal. It's a huge deal. And sadly, the warning signs and the paper trail going back trying to alert leaders about lack of financial controls and the likelihood of fraud uh go back years. And so we had a number of key leaders and people in the bureaucracy sleeping at the switch or worse.

Yeah. Speaking of that, you're a former governor of the state, obviously. As someone who knows the ins and outs of that office. How likely is it that Governor Walls knew something about this fraud before it really became public?

Well, what we do know for sure is that the paper trail goes back years, and you had, for example, the nonpartisan, well- reggarded legislative auditor in Minnesota say that they felt that the Walls administration had a quote unquote shoot the messenger mentality. We had another instance but going all the way back to 2018 where our Bureau of Criminal Apprehension was investigating an earlier version of child care fraud and they ceased the investigation because the bureaucrats involved wouldn't help them, wouldn't provide information that they had requested and they wrote up in their report that those people refused to comply. The bureaucrats refused to comply because they didn't want to quote unquote enable or be a tool of law enforcement. I mean, can you imagine the mindset, the culture, the rot inside of government when you have a mid-level bureaucrat being able to stiff arm a criminal

investigation over public fraud? It's alarming indeed. In terms of motive for covering up things like this, is there a a profit motive for political leaders or is it all about re-election? Well, so far there has been no credible allegation or evidence that a public official pocketed money, but there's lots of other people who pocketed money, affiliated with nonprofits, leaders of nonprofits, founders of nonprofits, over 90 people criminally charged so far with many more to come presumably. But beyond that, I think there's another motive going on that's political, which is look, we shouldn't stigmatize people because they belong to a particular racial or religious group. But we also should look the other way or excuse behavior that's criminal or inappropriate because somebody's in such a group. And there are allegations here that people in state government were slow to respond or look the other way

because these were folks from the Somali community, which is a big political constituency for Democrats in our state. And they also didn't want to be perceived as being, you know, racist or discriminatory. And so I think some of that was going on as well.

Yeah, it certainly appears so. Governor Palente, thank you so much for joining us.

Happy to do it. Thank you. Thanks for waking up with us. And for those of you listening to the show, now you can watch for free on Daily Wire Plus. We'll be back later this evening with more news you need to know.

Questions about this episode

Who speaks in "Trump’s Economy Pays Dividends & SCOTUS Weighs Women’s Sports"?

Georgia How (Host), John Bickley (Host), Kat Phillips (Guest), Megan Basham (Guest), Tim Palenti (Guest), Jerome Powell (Guest), Caroline Levitt (Guest).

What is "Trump’s Economy Pays Dividends & SCOTUS Weighs Women’s Sports" about?

The discussion highlights the economic improvements under President Trump's policies, marked by declining gas prices and mortgage rates alongside a surging GDP, while also addressing the Supreme Court's examination of state policies on men's participation in women's sports. Additionally, it touches on political unrest in Minnesota regarding anti-ICE protests and a significant fraud scandal,…

What is mentioned in this Morning Wire episode?

6 people, works and ideas are mentioned, including Title IX, US Federal Reserve, Alliance Defending Freedom, Tim Palenti. Each one on this page links to its own page with every episode that mentions it.

How long is "Trump’s Economy Pays Dividends & SCOTUS Weighs Women’s Sports"?

The episode runs 17 min; the transcript is about 3,013 words in 44 timestamped sections.

More from Morning Wire

About this transcript: the episode's spoken words as captioned on YouTube, split into timestamped sections. Reclip.Me locates every person, work and idea in the text, keeps the time it is first named, and quotes the words around it verbatim. Last updated January 24, 2026.