Trump’s legal fund; Ebola outbreak; Raúl Castro; SpaceX finances; Colbert’s farewell; and more

Summary

Podcast Summary: The 7 (The Washington Post) Episode Title: Trump’s legal fund; Ebola outbreak; Raúl Castro; SpaceX finances; Colbert’s farewell; and more
Air Date: May 21, 2026
Host: Izin Akabawu (in for Hannah Jewell)
Episode Theme:
This episode covers the day’s seven most important news stories, ranging from political developments involving former President Trump, health concerns over a new Ebola outbreak, major indictments, the financial state of SpaceX, workforce trends, and the cultural impact of Stephen Colbert’s final Late Show episode.

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1. Trump’s New $1.8 Billion Legal Fund

Timestamps: 00:33–02:34

• Context: President Trump’s allies are eager to access a newly established $1.8 billion legal compensation fund, aiming to support those who claim to have been unfairly prosecuted, especially surrounding events like the January 6 Capitol attack and efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
• Key Points:
  • No funds distributed yet, but many conservative figures (including George Santos, who was granted clemency after a fraud conviction) are expressing interest.
  • The fund’s creation has triggered criticism and plans for investigation from House Democrats.
  • Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) called out the fund as “brazen and corrupt,” and moved to subpoena top administration officials for oversight.
    • Quote: “We've got many questions for everybody involved in this brazen and corrupt transaction, Mr. Chair.” (Rep. Jamie Raskin, 02:10)
    • Quote: “These individuals all possess critical insights into Trump's self dealing scheme with his own agencies to create this fund and reward his supporters and friends.” (Rep. Jamie Raskin, 02:22)
• Notable: Two Capitol police officers have filed a lawsuit seeking to block the fund’s implementation.

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2. Trump’s Triumph Arch Plan in D.C. – Legal Workarounds

Timestamps: 02:34–03:20

• Context: The Trump administration is pushing to construct a 250-foot triumphal arch or memorial circle near Arlington National Cemetery without congressional approval.
• Key Points:
  • Citing a century-old authorization, officials argue for bypassing federal law requiring Congress’s sign-off.
  • Legal experts and Democrats call this an unprecedented and unlawful workaround.

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3. White House Reluctance to Evacuate American Doctor with Ebola

Timestamps: 03:20–04:36

• Context: The White House resisted repatriating an American doctor, Peter Stafford, who was exposed to Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Key Points:
  • The delay in evacuation and care led to Stafford’s eventual transport to Germany instead.
  • The Ebola outbreak in DRC has killed at least 139 people; there are no targeted vaccines for this strain, and doses for the most promising candidate are months away.

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4. Raul Castro Indicted by the U.S.

Timestamps: 04:36–05:50

• Context: Former Cuban President Raúl Castro is indicted on murder and conspiracy charges over the 1996 downing of two planes, which killed four people (three Americans).
• Key Points:
  • U.S. alleges Castro ordered the attack; indictment had been sealed until now.
  • Trump administration links the Justice Department’s action to pressure Cuba for political change.
  • Quote: “Nations and their leaders cannot be permitted to target Americans, kill them and not face accountability. … If you kill Americans, we will pursue you, no matter who you are, no matter what title you hold. And in this case, no matter how much time has passed.” (Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, 05:25)

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5. SpaceX Discloses Massive Losses Ahead of IPO

Timestamps: 06:09–07:40

• Context: SpaceX prepares for a blockbuster IPO but reveals $13 billion in losses since 2023.
• Key Points:
  • Losses largely attributed to Elon Musk’s AI company (Xai), which has since merged with SpaceX.
  • Starlink (SpaceX’s satellite internet service) is profitable, but other ventures aren’t yet sustainable.
  • The company and Musk are betting on AI as a major future revenue source.

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6. Job Market: Layoff Myths vs. Hiring Reality

Timestamps: 07:40–09:05

• Context: Despite widespread perceptions, U.S. layoff rates are steady (1.2%), unchanged from pre-pandemic averages.
• Key Points:
  • High-profile layoffs (Amazon, Meta, Nike) distort public perception.
  • Only about 5% of companies using AI report changes in workforce size due to automation.
  • The real labor market issue: a lack of robust hiring, making job searching more difficult.

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7. The Final Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Timestamps: 09:05–10:30

• Context: The Late Show, a staple of American late-night TV since 1993, airs its final episode tonight.
• Key Points:
  • CBS canceled the show after a settlement with Trump over a “60 Minutes” interview lawsuit. Colbert accused CBS’s parent company of paying a “big fat bribe” to appease Trump.
    • Quote: “Now, I believe this kind of complicated financial settlement with a sitting government official has a technical name in legal circles. It's big fat bribe.” (Stephen Colbert, 09:05)
  • Suspicions of political interference in the show’s cancellation as CBS sought administration approval for a sale to Skydance.
  • The end of Colbert’s run marks a shift away from traditional TV, with late-night popularity declining as audiences turn to online platforms.
  • Colbert will remain active, writing a new Lord of the Rings movie.

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Memorable Moments & Quotes:

• Rep. Jamie Raskin’s fiery challenge to Trump’s legal fund (02:10, 02:22)
• Acting AG Todd Blanche’s stern warning on targeting Americans abroad (05:25)
• Stephen Colbert’s satirical takedown of corporate “bribery” (09:05)

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Conclusion:
This episode of The 7 provides a brisk yet thorough briefing on turbulent U.S. political maneuvers (particularly involving Trump’s new legal fund and actions against Cuba), urgent global health news, the state of the tech market, labor force realities, and cultural reflection on the conclusion of a late-night comedy era. The stories are fast-paced but layered with quotes and context, offering listeners a robust sense of the shifting American landscape across politics, economics, and entertainment.

Transcript

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[Izin Akabawu]

President Trump's allies are eyeing his new legal fund. Experts are increasingly concerned about the Ebola outbreak. And Stephen Colbert is preparing to say goodbye. That's some of what we'll get to on the 7 from the Washington Post. I'm Izin Akabawu in for Hannah jewel. It's Thursday, May 21st. Let's get you caught up with today's seven stories. Number one, President Trump's allies are already lining up to apply to his new $1.8 billion fund. This week, a legal deal established a massive fund to compensate people who claim to have been unfairly targeted by the justice system. No funds have been handed out yet, but a wide range of conservative figures have expressed their interest in the settlement fund. The fund is expected to go toward people charged in the January 6 attack, those who say they were wrongly prosecuted by the Biden administration and those who tried to help Trump overturn the 2020 election results. Lawyers for those Trump supporters have said their clients are interested in making claims. Other conservative figures have said that they intend to apply for the fund when it becomes available. They include former Congressman George Santos, who had his sentence for identity theft and wire fraud commuted by Trump last year. But the fund is also being met with resistance. House Democrats have announced plans to investigate and potentially block the fund if they retake the House in November. Here's Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland speaking yesterday at an unrelated House Judiciary hearing.

[Representative Jamie Raskin]

We've got many questions for everybody involved in this brazen and corrupt transaction, Mr. Chair.

[Izin Akabawu]

He moved to subpoena Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Treasury Secretary Scott Besant and several others.

[Representative Jamie Raskin]

These individuals all possess critical insights into Trump's self dealing scheme with his own agencies to create this fund and reward his supporters and friends. So I move that they be subpoenaed right now.

[Izin Akabawu]

Also yesterday, two police officers who defended The Capitol on January 6, 2021, filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block the Trump administration's fund. Trump officials said they can build a 250 foot AR in D.C. without Congress's approval. That's number two. The president wants to build a triumphal arch or memorial circle, a traffic roundabout near Arlington National Cemetery. But under federal law, that part of the city is considered protected land, and monuments built there require authorization from Congress. The Post reported yesterday that officials are arguing they do not need approval from Congress because lawmakers more than a century ago authorised a somewhat similar project that was never built. The administration's argument has been criticised by lawyers suing to halt the project. Outside experts and some Democrats say the plan defies precedent and is an attempted workaround of federal law. Number three is a Post exclusive. The White House resisted letting an American doctor with Ebola return to the U.S. peter Stafford is an American doctor who was exposed to Ebola while working in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Yesterday, the Post reported that the White House pushed back on bringing Stafford back to the us. People familiar with discussions said the reluctance delayed the evacuation and care of Stafford. He was ultimately transported to Germany. Meanwhile, experts are becoming increasingly concerned about the Ebola outbreak in the drc. Some believe the outbreak will be extremely difficult to contain because of a dangerous convergence of factors. There are no existing vaccines targeted to the species of Ebola that is already suspected to have killed 139 people. And global health officials say producing doses of the most promising candidate will take at least six to nine months. Number four. Former Cuban President Raul Castro was indicted in the US Yesterday. In Miami, Justice Department officials announced that Castro had been indicted on charges of murder and conspiracy. The charges relate to the downing of two planes in 1996. Four people were killed, three of them Americans. A federal grand jury in Miami alleged that Cuban military forces were acting on Castro's orders when they shot down the two civilian aircraft. The indictment was returned in April, but remained under seal. In a press conference, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche laid down a warning.

[Representative Jamie Raskin]

Nations and their leaders cannot be permitted to target Americans, kill them and not face accountability. President Trump is committed to restoring a very simple but important principle. If you kill Americans, we will pursue you, no matter who you are, no matter what title you hold. And in this case, no matter how much time has passed.

[Izin Akabawu]

The indictment comes as the Trump administration has increased its pressure on Cuba as it tries to force political turnover. And it's just the latest example of the administration using its Justice Department to bolster its foreign policy aims.

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[Izin Akabawu]

Musk's company SpaceX has disclosed massive losses. That's number five. In weeks, SpaceX will debut on the stock market. The company is expected to have a record breaking IPO, but it has also reported $13 billion worth of losses since the start of 2023. According to a filing made public yesterday, most of the losses were driven by Xai Musk's artificial intelligence company that was founded in 2023. Earlier this year, Xai was merged into SpaceX. Overall, the company consists of Internet provider Starlink and businesses including a commercial rocket, AI and social media. While Starlink is profitable, the other businesses are not. However, SpaceX expects many of its future opportunities to come from AI, and Musk's compensation is tied to the company's financial performance. Number six it might feel like layoffs are soaring, but they're not. The job market feels precarious right now. There are plenty of news reports about well known companies laying off workers, from Amazon to Meta and Nike. However, a close look at the numbers paints an interesting picture. About 1.2% of employed workers were affected by layoffs in March. That number has been steady for years, outside the pandemic. And although AI has been blamed by several companies for layoffs, that's not the full story. Analysis of Census Bureau surveys found that more than 95% of businesses that use AI say it hasn't changed their worker numbers. Experts say the problem really lies in a lack of hiring. People looking for jobs face longer odds than they did a few years ago. Despite the data, many Americans feel like there are more layoffs, and experts caution that this distorted view could change worker behavior. And at number seven, the final episode of the Late show with Stephen Colbert airs tonight. The Late show is a television institution. It was created by David Letterman in 1993. Colbert took over hosting duties in 2015. But CBS announced the cancellation of the Late show last July, and the final episode will go out at 11:35 Eastern tonight. For many fans and viewers, the cancellation carries the stench of suspected political interference. It came after CBS parent company Paramount agreed to pay $16 million to settle a Trump lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview. Colbert in July called the settlement a big fat bribe.

[Stephen Colbert]

Now, I believe this kind of complicated financial settlement with a sitting government official has a technical name in legal circles. It's big fat bribe. Because this all comes as Paramount's owners are trying to get the Trump administration to approve the sale of our network to a new owner. Skydance. Not the music I was expecting, okay?

[Izin Akabawu]

Trump has long been critical of the late night comedy shows that roast him, and during his second term, his administration has taken action against the networks that carry these shows. The Late Show's conclusion also comes at a moment of seismic changes for the classic late night TV format. As the years have gone on People have turned to the Internet for entertainment and away from linear television. But Colbert will remain busy. After his show ends in March, he said he was writing a new Lord of the Rings movie. Alright, you're all caught up. If you enjoy this podcast, we'd really appreciate it if you took a few minutes to leave us a review. Wherever you listen, it helps other people find us. I'm Izin Akabawu. I'll meet you back here tomorrow.

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