The FBI and Democrats; Trump’s ballroom plans; national park fees; and more

Summary

The 7 – November 26, 2025

Episode Summary:

Host: Hannah Jewell
Main Theme:
Hannah Jewell walks listeners through the seven major stories shaping the day, ranging from political controversies involving the FBI and Democratic lawmakers, to Trump’s White House ambitions, national park fee hikes for foreign visitors, Medicare drug pricing reforms, nuclear startups, corporate discrimination lawsuits, and the sobering truth about smartphone usage.

---

1. FBI Interviews Democrats Over Military Video

Overview:

• The FBI has requested interviews with six Democratic lawmakers who appeared in a viral video reminding U.S. service members to disobey unlawful orders.
• The video was seemingly related to Trump’s aggressive military campaigns in Latin America.
• President Trump publicly called the lawmakers “traitors” and urged their arrest, claiming their actions were seditious.
• Arizona Senator Mark Kelly (a retired naval officer) is under an unprecedented review by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for possible unlawful conduct.
• The probe is seen as a potential example of the Justice Department targeting Trump's political opponents at his prompting.

Key Quotes:

• “To be honest, the president’s reaction and the use of the FBI against us is exactly why we made the video. He believes in using the federal government against his perceived adversaries.” — Senator Alyssa Slotkin (Michigan), [01:35]

Memorable Moments:

• The issue reflects the tension between checks on presidential power and the potential weaponization of federal agencies.

---

2. Trump’s White House Ballroom Battles

Overview:

• President Trump is personally involved in planning a 90,000 sq. ft. addition to the White House: a grand ballroom.
• Trump’s chosen architect, James McCreary, and the former President are at odds over its size. McCreary urges restraint, worried about overshadowing the historic building.
• The dispute highlights Trump’s penchant for extravagance and “grandiose aesthetic.”

Key Insight:

• In architecture, it’s generally frowned upon to build additions that dwarf the main structure—a norm Trump is challenging.

Memorable Moment:

• The debate frames Trump’s tastes vs. traditional architectural guidance.

---

3. National Park Fee Hikes for Foreign Visitors

Overview:

• Starting next year, foreign visitors will pay $250 for an annual “America the Beautiful” national park pass (up from $80 for U.S. residents).
• Nonresident visitors without an annual pass must pay a $100 surcharge to enter the 11 most-visited parks (e.g., Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite).
• U.S. permanent residents 62+ pay just $20, and passes remain free for U.S. military and fourth graders.
• The Department of the Interior claims the new structure puts American families first.
• Concern from some tourist boards: the measure may deter international tourism.

Memorable Moment:

• The fee disparity and its potential impact on foreign tourism are actively debated.
• “A news release from the Department of the Interior yesterday said the new fee structure puts American families first, but some tourist boards are worried it could lead to fewer international tourists.” — Hannah Jewell, [03:27]

---

4. Medicare Announces Price Cuts on 15 Drugs

Overview:

• The Trump administration declared it will pay lower prices for 15 key prescription drugs under Medicare.
• Drugs affected include GLP1 medications (Ozempic, Wegovy), cancer, and asthma meds.
• This move is estimated to save $12 billion compared to last year’s spending.
• The new prices take effect in January 2026.

Notable Quote:

• President Trump has often called Ozempic “the fat drug,” pressing for cost reductions.

Key Facts:

• GLP1 drugs are used by around 16 million Americans for weight loss and diabetes.
• The cuts are part of Trump's broader push to reduce drug spending.

---

5. Trump-Linked Nuclear Startups Attract Billions

Overview:

• Startups like Fermi America (co-founded by ex-Energy Secretary Rick Perry) are seeing a boom in investment, despite lacking operational reactors.
• Fermi received substantial investor cash soon after filing to build the “Donald J. Trump Advanced Energy and Intelligence Campus.”
• Other nuclear startups with Trump connections and unproven tech are similarly benefitting.
• Fermi CEO Toby Neugebauer denies trading on political connections; officials insist regulatory reviews are rigorous.

Key Insight:

• “Fermi America has not yet built a nuclear reactor, split an atom or even produced an electron. But the nuclear company does have some things going for it.” — Hannah Jewell, [05:02]

---

6. Campbell’s Executive Accused of Discriminatory Remarks

Overview:

• Martin Bali, Campbell’s vice president and chief information security officer, is on leave after allegations of making disparaging remarks, including calling Campbell’s products, “for poor people.”
• Lawsuit brought by ex-employee Robert Garza, who was reportedly fired after whistleblowing.
• Allegations include making offensive comments about Indian employees.
• Campbell’s is conducting an internal investigation.

Notable Quotes:

• Bali allegedly stated: “If you look at our pantry, we still we have for, for people, right?” — Recording played, [06:48]
• “Bali also allegedly made disparaging comments about Indian employees.” — [07:00]

---

7. How Many Times Do You Unlock Your Phone?

Overview:

• Many drastically underestimate their daily phone pickups (guess: ~10; reality: 50–100+ per day for younger people).
• Excessive phone checking—every 10–20 minutes—harms focus and memory.
• Research shows 72 hours away from smartphones triggers withdrawal-like brain activity.

Notable Quote:

• “I dare you to go look. Mine are hovering around 100 daily. Here’s why that’s bad. Other research shows that glancing at your phone a lot can begin to compromise your cognitive skills, draining focus and memory.” — Hannah Jewell, [07:20]

Memorable Moment:

• Host challenges listeners to check their own phone data.

---

Notable Quotes and Moments by Timestamp

• 01:35 — Sen. Alyssa Slotkin: “The president’s reaction and the use of the FBI against us is exactly why we made the video. He believes in using the federal government against his perceived adversaries.”
• 03:27 — Fee hikes and potential impact on international tourism.
• 05:02 — Hannah Jewell on Trump-favored nuclear startups: “Fermi America has not yet built a nuclear reactor, split an atom or even produced an electron. But the nuclear company does have some things going for it.”
• 06:48 — Martin Bali per lawsuit: “If you look at our pantry, we still we have for, for people, right?”
• 07:20 — Hannah Jewell on phone usage: “Mine are hovering around 100 daily. Here’s why that’s bad…”

---

Episode Flow and Tone

• Concise, news-focused, and lightly conversational—typical of daily briefings.
• Use of direct quotes and a mix of serious and playful moments (especially on phone use).
• No discussion of ads, intros, or outros included above.

---

This summary gives a rich, accessible capture of the episode’s news highlights, suited for keeping up with the day’s biggest stories even if you missed the full podcast.

Transcript

[A]

The FBI requested interviews with Democrats who took part in a controversial video. That's where we're starting the Seven from the Washington Post, I'm Hannah Jewell. It's Wednesday, November 26th. Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories. In a viral video Last week, six Democratic lawmakers reminded U.S. service members of their duty to disobe obey unlawful orders. The video appeared related to the Trump administration's deadly military campaign against alleged drug smugglers around Latin America. President Donald Trump reacted to the video, calling them traitors. He called for them to be arrested, saying their actions were seditious and potentially punishable by death. Now, the FBI has requested interviews with the six Democrats in the video. Arizona Senator Mark Kelly was one of them. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unprecedented directive to the Navy this week to review potentially unlawful conduct by Kelly, who is a retired naval officer. Senator Alyssa Slotkin of Michigan spoke about the FBI request yesterday. To be honest, the president's reaction and the use of the FBI against us is exactly why we made the video. He believes in using the federal government against his perceived adversaries. The scope of the FBI's inquiry remains uncertain, but it appears to be another example of the Justice Department responding directly to calls from Trump to investigate his political adversaries. President Trump has argued with an architect over the size of his White White House ballroom. That's number two. Trump hand picked James McCreary to oversee the design of his pet project, a 90,000 square foot addition to the White House. But the Post reported this morning that the two men are struggling to agree on key details of the ballroom project, namely its size. Trump wants to go big, but McCreary has urged restraint over concerns the ballroom could dwarf the rest of the White house, which is 50%. The disagreement reflects a conflict between architectural norms and Trump's grandiose aesthetic. It's a general rule in architecture not to build an addition that could overshadow the main building. Three national parks announced new charges for foreign visitors. Starting next year, an annual pass to national parks will cost non residents $250. The America the Beautiful pass will remain $80 for US residents. Non residents without an annual pass will have to pay an additional $100 surcharge to enter 11 of the most visited places in the national park system. That includes the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and Yosemite. For permanent residents who are 62 or older, the annual pass is just $20. And if you're in the military or lucky enough to be in fourth grade, it's free. A news release from the Department of the Interior yesterday said the new fee structure puts American families first, but some tourist boards are worried it could lead to fewer international tourists. Officials announced which drugs will get lower medic pricing? That's number four. Yesterday, the Trump administration said it will pay lower prices for 15 prescription drugs for people on Medicare. They include GLP1 medications, Ozempic and Wegovy, as well as certain cancer and asthma drugs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said the new prices would save the government about $12 billion compared to last year's spending. GLP1 medications are taken by about 16 million Americans, many of whom use them to help lose weight. President Trump has frequently criticized the cost of what he has dubbed the fat drug. He said this month that his administration secured concessions to lower the medication's cost. The new prices under Medicare will take effect in January 2020. Five. Founders of Trump's favored nuclear startups are becoming billionaires Fermi America has not yet built a nuclear reactor, split an atom or even produced an electron. But the nuclear company does have some things going for it. One of its founders, Rick Perry, was the energy secretary during the president's first term. And a few months after the company filed paperwork with regulators to build the Donald J. Trump Advanced Energy and Intelligence Campus, it received plenty of investor cash. Other Trump connected nuclear firms with untested business plans are also getting big cash injections and winning favor from regulators. Fermi CEO Toby Neugebauer disputed the idea that his business was merely trading on connections, and Energy Department officials said nuclear approvals are subject to rigorous regulatory review. Foreign. A lawsuit claims a senior executive at Campbell's made offensive remarks. That's number six. Martin Bali is a vice president and chief information security officer at the food giant Campbell's. He has been placed on leave following allegations from a former employee, Robert Garza. Garza filed a discrimination lawsuit claiming he was fired after reporting Bali's behavior. The lawsuit alleges that Bally said during a meeting that Campbell's products were for, quote, poor people. Garza's attorney provided the Washington Post with a lengthy recording of a conversation between the two men. If you look at our pantry, we still we have for four people, right?

[B]

We have. That's for four people who buys a.

[A]

Bali also allegedly made disparaging comments about Indian employees. Campbell said in a statement that it was carrying out an investigation. And at number seven, it might horrify you to learn how many times a day you look at your phone when asked in a survey how many times they pick up their devices each day. Most people believed they did so about 10 times seems reasonable. The truth, though, is a little more shocking. In one study of younger people, participants checked or unlocked their smartphones between 50 and more than 100 times per day. That's every 10 to 20 minutes on average while awake. Yikes. Both Android and iOS devices allow users to check the number of unlocks in their settings. I dare you to go look. Mine are hovering around 100 daily. Here's why that's bad. Other research shows that glancing at your phone a lot can begin to compromise your cognitive skills, draining focus and memory. Another study found that after just 72 hours without smartphone use, brain activity began to mirror patterns typically seen in substance withdrawal. So let that be your inspiration to resist glancing at your phone today. Alright, you're all caught up. The podcast team will be off for the rest of the week. There will be no show tomorrow and on Friday we'll be sharing something a little different with you. If you usually listen to us on the Post's app or website, do not panic when you hear a robot read you the day's briefing. The robot has not replaced me, it's just giving me a little break. We will still send our newsletter as usual tomorrow and Friday, so make sure you sign up for the seven morning briefing. That way you can be prepared if anybody brings up the news over Thanksgiving dinner. I'm Hannah Jewell. I hope you have a wonderful holiday. I'll meet you back here on Monday.

[B]

Think about why you listen to podcasts. It's like having a friend who makes you think or can help you wind down right? Well, the Washington Post has a lot of people you can turn to at any hour. You can read the most important and interesting stories. We can help you cook something delicious, give you advice on a tricky friendship rave about a movie or book that you shouldn't miss. When you become a Washington Post subscriber, you have a companion for whatever part of your day needs it most. Get it all for just $4 every four weeks. That's for an entire year. After that, it's just $12 every 44 weeks. Cancel anytime. Go to washingtonpost.com subscribe that's washingtonpost.com subscribe.

[C]

With savings over $390 this shopping season. VRBO helps you swap gift wrap time for quality time with those you love most, from snow on the roof to sand between your toes. We have all the vacation rental options covered. Go to VRBO now and book a last minute week long stay save over $390 this holiday season and book your next vacation rental home on VRBO. Average savings $396.00 select homes only.