Bishop Asks Trump to ‘Have Mercy,’ and Hegseth Faces New Accusations

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Headlines Episode: Bishop Asks Trump to ‘Have Mercy,’ and Hegseth Faces New Accusations
Release Date: January 22, 2025
Host: Tracy Mumford, The New York Times

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Overview

In this episode of "The Headlines," Tracy Mumford delves into several pressing issues dominating the news landscape. The discussion spans from legal challenges faced by President Donald Trump concerning his recent executive orders, a poignant plea from Bishop Marianne Edgar Buddy during the inaugural prayer service, controversies surrounding Trump’s cabinet nominees, the humanitarian situation in Gaza post-ceasefire, and an unprecedented winter storm affecting the southern United States.

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Presidential Executive Orders and Legal Pushback

Executive Orders on Birthright Citizenship

Two days into his presidency, President Donald Trump has faced significant opposition regarding his extensive use of executive orders. Notably, 22 state attorneys general, including Matthew Plotkin of New Jersey, have initiated legal action against Trump. They contest his executive order that seeks to undermine birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants, arguing it violates the 14th Amendment.

• Legal Analyst (00:49): "Presidents in this country have broad powers, but they are not kings. They do not have the power to unilaterally disregard our laws."

• Legal Analyst (01:10): "[Trump’s executive order] is an extreme and unprecedented act, and this executive order is an assault on the rule of law."

If not halted by the judiciary, the order is set to take effect next month, affecting approximately 420 children born daily to non-citizen parents in the U.S.

Executive Order on Federal Workforce

Additionally, Trump faces a lawsuit over another executive order aimed at making it easier to terminate federal employees. Currently, federal workers are hired based on merit and cannot be dismissed arbitrarily. The proposed order threatens to replace career civil servants with political appointees, potentially disrupting federal agencies' operations across various sectors.

• Union Representation (02:30): The union representing 50,000 government employees emphasized that Trump's move could "radically reshape federal agencies and disrupt everything from law enforcement to environmental protection efforts."

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Bishop Marianne Edgar Buddy’s Plea to President Trump

During the inaugural prayer service at the National Cathedral, Bishop Marianne Edgar Buddy made a heartfelt appeal to President Trump, calling for compassion amidst his administration's stringent immigration policies.

• Bishop Buddy (04:15): "I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away and that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here."

She highlighted the growing fear among LGBTQ Americans due to the rollback of protections for transgender individuals. In response, Trump criticized her stance on social media.

• Trump's Response (05:05): Trump referred to Bishop Buddy as a "radical left hardline Trump hater" and demanded an apology for her sermon.

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Rollback of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives

The Trump administration is moving forward with plans to dismantle DEI initiatives within the federal government. By 5 PM on the day of the podcast's release, federal agencies are required to place all DEI staff on paid leave and formulate plans to close their offices. Outgoing personnel will also be scrutinized regarding any remaining DEI efforts.

• Executive Order on DEI (04:50): The order claims that DEI initiatives "undermine hard work and individual achievement in favor of a pernicious identity-based system," marking a stark contrast to the Biden administration's approach to DEI as a means to support underserved communities and address racial inequalities.

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Cabinet Appointments and Controversies

Marco Rubio as Secretary of State

Marco Rubio, President Trump's first cabinet member, has been officially sworn in as the 72nd Secretary of State. His confirmation process was notably smooth, with the Senate voting unanimously (99-0) in his favor.

Pete Hegseth’s Accusations

However, Trump's nomination of Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense has encountered obstacles. Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army veteran, faces new allegations from his ex-sister-in-law, who submitted a sworn statement to the Senate accusing him of excessive drinking and abusive behavior toward his second wife. While Hegseth denies these allegations, parallels have been drawn to previous accusations, including a financial settlement over a rape accusation.

• Legal Analyst (05:47): "Pete is going to be the Secretary of Defense, period. The Dems can do whatever they want to, say whatever they want to. He's denied allegations."

• Senator Mark Wayne Mullen (05:55): Mullen suggested the allegations might be part of a smear campaign against Hegseth.

A full Senate vote on Hegseth's nomination could occur within days, despite ongoing controversies.

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Humanitarian Impact in Gaza Post-Ceasefire

After a recently enacted ceasefire, nearly 2 million people in Gaza are attempting to return to their homes to assess the extensive damage. Many homes and infrastructure have been destroyed, leaving families displaced multiple times.

• Reporter Vivian Yee and Bilal Shabert (06:54): Shared the story of the Dahliz family from Rafah, who returned after eight months in tents only to find their ancestral home in ruins. The family expresses a desire to rebuild but fears the instability of the ceasefire may hinder their efforts.

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Unprecedented Winter Storm in the Southern United States

A record-breaking winter storm has swept across the southern U.S., bringing rare snowfall to states like Florida and Louisiana. The storm has resulted in:

• Infrastructure Disruptions: Thousands of flight cancellations, closed airports, and the shutdown of major highways, including Interstate 10.

• Casualties: At least 10 fatalities due to crashes and exposure to the cold.

• Rarity of Snow: Baton Rouge, Louisiana, issued its first-ever blizzard warning. In Florida, historic snowfall covered white sand beaches, and residents have resorted to using levees as makeshift ski slopes. Children are sledding on unconventional items like cookie sheets.

• Mayor of Pensacola, Florida (08:14): "Well, how would someone in Michigan or Minnesota react to a Category 2 hurricane?" highlighting the unprecedented nature of the storm for the region.

The last significant snow event in the area dates back to the Gulf Storm of 1895.

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Conclusion

Tracy Mumford encapsulates a day filled with significant developments, from high-stakes political maneuvers and legal battles surrounding presidential powers, to heartfelt appeals for compassion amidst policy crackdowns, along with natural disasters challenging the preparedness of southern states. These stories underscore the dynamic and often turbulent intersection of politics, law, humanitarian crises, and environmental challenges shaping current events.

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For more in-depth coverage and updates, visit the New York Times Audio app at nytimes.com/audioapp.

Transcript

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[Tracy Mumford]

From the New York Times, it's the headlines. I'm Tracy Mumford. Today's Wednesday, January 22nd. Here's what we're covering.

[Legal Analyst]

Presidents in this country have broad powers, but they are not kings. They do not have the power to unilaterally disregard our laws. That's true for Donald Trump. That's true for every president that came before him and every president who will come after him.

[Tracy Mumford]

Two days into his presidency, Donald Trump is facing pushback over his avalanche of executive orders.

[Legal Analyst]

This is an extreme and unprecedented act, and this executive order is an assault on the rule of law.

[Tracy Mumford]

22 state attorneys general, including Matthew Plotkin of New Jersey, sued Trump on Tuesday over his executive order undermining birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants. They called it a clear violation of the 14th Amendment.

[Legal Analyst]

We know that the executive order would wreak havoc and chaos. Hundreds of thousands of children who are born in this country to non citizen parents each year will suddenly have an uncertain legal status. That's at least 420 children born every single day.

[Tracy Mumford]

If the order is not blocked by the courts, it will kick in next month. Trump is also facing a lawsuit over his executive order that will make it easier to fire federal workers. Right now, those workers are supposed to be hired based on merit and can't be arbitrarily dismissed. But Trump's order could open the door for career civil servants to be replaced by political appointees. And A union representing 50,000 government employees has sued, saying that could radically reshape federal agencies and disrupt everything from law enforcement to environmental protection efforts. Also on Tuesday, let me make one final plea, Mr. President Trump faced a rare direct act of resistance when Bishop Marianne Edgar Buddy turned to him as he was sitting in the front row during the inaugural prayer service at the National Cathedral. I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away and that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here. She called on Trump to consider the impact of his crackdown on immigration. And she said fear was spreading among LGBTQ Americans as Trump rolled back protections for transgender people. Trump looked away. Buddy told the Times, quote, I wasn't necessarily calling the president out. I was trying to say the country has been entrusted to you. Late last night, Trump berated the bishop on social media, calling her a radical left hardline Trump hater and demanding an apology for the sermon. Meanwhile, the Trump administration is pushing forward with its plans to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives inside the federal government. They've set a deadline of 5pm today for federal agencies to place all their DEI staff on paid leave and come up with plans to shut down their offices. They've also said outgoing staff will be questioned when they leave about whether there are any remaining DEI efforts in place. The executive order that outlines the rollback says that DEI initiatives undermine hard work and individual achievement in favor of a pernicious identity based system. It marks a 180 degree turn from how the Biden administration saw DEI work as an effort to support underserved communities and address racial inequalities. And with that, I will welcome you to the Department of state colleagues. The 72nd Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Trump's first cabinet member. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has officially been sworn in. For the former senator from Florida, the confirmation process was smooth. The Senate voted 99. 0 to approve him. But there's been a new complication for one of Trump's other highest level Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense. Yesterday, his former sister in law submitted a sworn statement to the Senate saying she saw Hegseth drinking excessively on numerous occasions, including while in his military uniform. She also claimed Hegseth was abusive towards his second wife, leading her to hide in a closet on one occasion out of fear and text for help. According to the affidavit, she did not witness the abuse firsthand, and Hegseth's ex wife said in her own affidavit there was no physical abuse. But the new allegations are strikingly similar to others that have surfaced about the former Fox News host and army veteran, including a financial settlement he paid to a woman who accused him of rape. Hegseth has vigorously denied the allegations against him and Republicans are still pushing his nomination forward. Senator Mark Wayne Mullen of Oklahoma told reporters yesterday that he thinks the allegations are part of a smear campaign.

[Legal Analyst]

Pete is going to be the Secretary of Defense, period The Dems can do whatever they want to, say whatever they want to. He's denied allegations.

[Tracy Mumford]

A full Senate vote on HECSETH could come within days. In Gaza, since the moment the ceasefire took effect this weekend, people have been trying to make their way back to their homes to assess the damage. Many of the nearly 2 million people there were displaced at least once and much of the territory's been destroyed. The Times spoke with one family from the city of Rafah before they were forced to leave.

[Reporter]

The Dahliz family lived in this two story house next to a farm where they kept sheep Rabb chickens. They had olive groves and date palms. This was a house that the father of the family had built back in 1971. And like a lot of Gazan families, it was several generations living in the same house.

[Tracy Mumford]

My colleagues Vivian Yee and Bilal Shabert have been reporting on the family's return home after eight months of living in tents.

[Reporter]

As soon as the fighting stopped, the they decided to try to see it for themselves and go back. So they jumped in a car and set out for their old neighborhood and they're driving around looking for their house and they just don't see anything. And they realize they had just driven past it without even recognizing it because it was so destroyed. And the grandfather who built the house starting in the 70s was just so shocked that he kind of lost his breath and had to be taken back to their tent to recover and rest. Like a lot of Gazans, they would love to rebuild given the resources, but they're also just not sure will this ceasefire last? Is the war actually going to end in any kind of stable way? So if that happens, they're planning to clear some land and kind of camp out there until they can rebuild, but they're not even sure that will happen.

[Tracy Mumford]

And finally, yeah, we're talking about snow in Florida, folks. Frosted trees and snow are covering the highway. A record breaking winter storm sweeping across the southern US Piling up snow where that just does not happen.

[Legal Analyst]

Yeah, can you believe this picture right now? In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the first ever.

[Tracy Mumford]

Blizzard warning was issued for parts of Texas and Louisiana. Thousands of flights have been canceled, airports closed, and whole stretches of highway, including Interstate 10, have been shut down as officials warn people to stay off the roads. At least 10 people have died in crashes or in the cold. Still, the weather's brought a lot of people outside to see the ultra rare sight. There's snow on the white sand beaches in Florida, whipping past palm trees in New Orleans. People are using the levees as ski slopes. And kids who have never had any reason in their whole life to own a sled have been out there sliding down hills on cookie sheets. The last time a lot of the region got this much snow was the gulf storm of 1895. The mayor of Pensacola, Florida, which has gotten at least five inches, admitted he's learning on the fly the city doesn't own any snowplows. It had to hire some to drive down from Atlanta. He said some people have been trying to downplay the weather, saying, oh, it's just a few inches. He said, quote, well, how would someone in Michigan or Minnesota react to a Category 2 hurricane? Those are the headlines today on the Daily more on Trump's crackdown at the border. That's next in the New York Times audio app, where you can listen wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Tracy Mumford. We'll be back tomorrow.