On Thursday’s episode of The Excerpt podcast, several key topics were covered. First, California police released details of a sexual assault report involving Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for the Defense Department. Additionally, the House Ethics Commission reviewed records of Venmo payments allegedly made by Matt Gaetz, Trump’s nominee for attorney general, to two women involved in a probe. USA TODAY Democracy Reporter Erin Mansfield discussed sexual abuse allegations against Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy outlined plans for large-scale firings in the federal workforce under Trump. USA TODAY Education Reporter Zach Schermele examined future higher education and Linda McMahon’s nomination to lead the Department of Education, while House Speaker Mike Johnson announced a transgender bathroom ban in the Capitol.
Erin Mansfield shared a woman’s account of being sexually assaulted by Hegseth. She also discussed Kennedy Jr.’s alleged misconduct and response. Zach Schermele detailed McMahon’s background and education-related issues, including her support for school choice and Pell grants expansion. He discussed a potential new era in college oversight under the GOP, noting conflicting ideas within the party on education reform. Johnson’s transgender restroom policy in the Capitol was also highlighted.
The episode also mentioned the Great American Smokeout by the American Cancer Society and upcoming discussions on AI’s environmental costs. The podcast concluded with a teaser for future episodes on AI’s energy needs. The Excerpt is available on various platforms and smart speakers, with host Taylor Wilson returning on Monday for more updates.
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