The 7 (The Washington Post)

Episode: "D.C. pipe bomb arrest; Trump’s new ballroom architect; Black Death volcano theory; and more"

Host: Hannah Jewell
Date: December 5, 2025

Episode Overview

Hannah Jewell breaks down the seven most important and interesting news stories of the day, covering political developments, a major arrest related to January 6, international policies on social media, a scientific retraction with regulatory implications, and a fresh theory on the origins of the Black Death. The episode delivers concise reporting and key insights, offering listeners an efficient way to get up to speed on current affairs.

Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. Controversial US Military Boat Strike Video Shown to Lawmakers

[01:00–02:41]

• Lawmakers on Capitol Hill viewed military footage from a US attack on alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean (September).
• The video revealed a second strike occurred before survivors could right their overturned vessel.
• The incident is under scrutiny—reporting has surfaced that then-Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered “kill everyone on board.”
• Lawmakers offered split reactions:
  • Rep. Jim Himes (D): Called the video "one of the most troubling things he has seen in office."
  • Sen. Mark Warner (D): Awaiting further information.
  • Sen. Tom Cotton (R): Defended the strikes as "righteous and lawful."
  • Notable Quote:
    "I do continue to have concerns that this pattern from Secretary Hegseth of putting our uniform military in harm's way... it doesn't do the secretary or our armed forces [any service by holding back and not being transparent.]"
    —Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for D.C. [02:07]

2. Trump’s Mixed Legal Day – Supreme Court Win, Virginia Setback

[02:41–03:47]

• Supreme Court Ruling: Allowed a Texas redistricting map backed by Trump and the GOP, potentially flipping up to five House seats to Republicans.
• Virginia Legal Setback: A grand jury declined to re-indict New York Attorney General Letitia James on fraud, following earlier case dismissal—ending Trump’s recent legal pursuit against her.
• Context: The redistricting battle is seen as part of wider national strategies for electoral advantage; Trump’s priority to legally target James links back to her high-profile civil fraud suit against him.

3. Arrest in the January 6th D.C. Pipe Bomb Case

[03:47–05:11]

• FBI finally arrests a suspect nearly five years after pipe bombs were planted near DNC and RNC HQs on January 5, 2021, an act that heightened tensions during the Capitol riot.
• Suspect: Brian Cole, 30, from Virginia—described by sources as an extremist with radical political beliefs.
• Notable Quote:
  "Today, as a result of the cumulative efforts of the men and women in the FBI and the police department and the Department of Justice workers, we are finally able to make an arrest of an individual by the name of Brian Cole."
  —Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for D.C. [04:30]

4. Trump Hires a New Architect for $300M White House Ballroom

[05:11–06:07]

• Background: Architect James McCrary and his firm, initially leading Trump’s expensive ballroom project, parted ways—possibly voluntarily, reportedly over deadlines and workforce scale.
• Reported Disagreements: Sizing of the building and missed deadlines cited as factors.
• Successor: Shalom Baranas, veteran of D.C. government building design and renovation, will now head the project.

5. Glyphosate Study Retraction Stirs Pesticide Safety Debate

[06:07–07:17]

• A pivotal 2000 scientific study that found no health risk from glyphosate (key in Monsanto’s Roundup) was retracted, undermining decades of regulatory policy.
• Reasons for the retraction included:
  • Undisclosed Monsanto influence and payments to authors.
  • Signs the company may have helped write the study.
• EPA is set to review and potentially revise its health assessment of glyphosate.
• Industry Response: Bayer (which bought Monsanto) maintains that the chemical is safe.

6. Australia to Ban Social Media for Under-16s

[07:17–08:26]

• Australia poised to become the world’s first country enforcing an under-16 social media ban.
• Major platforms (X, Snapchat, Facebook, Meta, TikTok) are deactivating/freeze youth accounts.
• Policy Goal: Protect children from social media harms.
• International Impact: Other nations (Malaysia, Indonesia) watching; U.S. failed to pass a minimum age of 13.
• Critics: Age-verification challenges and concerns over compromising adult users’ data/anonymity.

7. New Theory: Volcanic Eruptions Contributed to the Black Death

[08:26–09:31]

• Traditional View: Mongol armies spread the plague via biological warfare during medieval siege.
• New Research: Tree-ring analysis in the Pyrenees points to a volcanic eruption(s) circa 1345, which caused crop failure and famine, prompting an embargo to lift and grain shipments to Europe.
• Key Finding: These ships may have inadvertently carried plague into Europe.
• Memorable Moment:
  "Another reason I will be heading into my weekend once again relieved not to be a medieval European peasant."
  —Hannah Jewell [09:27]

Notable Quotes

• "I do continue to have concerns that this pattern from Secretary Hegseth... doesn't do the secretary or our armed forces [any service by holding back and not being transparent.]"
  —Jeanine Pirro [02:07]

• "Today, as a result of the cumulative efforts... we are finally able to make an arrest of an individual by the name of Brian Cole."
  —Jeanine Pirro [04:30]

• "Another reason I will be heading into my weekend once again relieved not to be a medieval European peasant."
  —Hannah Jewell [09:27]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:00] – Boat strike video shown to Congress
• [02:41] – Trump’s court updates
• [03:47] – Arrest in January 6th pipe bomb case
• [05:11] – Trump’s ballroom project architect change
• [06:07] – Glyphosate study retracted
• [07:17] – Australia’s social media ban for under-16s
• [08:26] – Black Death volcano theory

This episode efficiently encapsulates breaking stories from Washington to Australia to medieval Europe, offering new details, context, and light commentary—all in under 10 minutes.