Musk’s Drug Use, and Companies Back Off Pride Month

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Headlines – "Musk’s Drug Use, and Companies Back Off Pride Month"

Release Date: May 30, 2025

In this episode of The Headlines by The New York Times, host Tracie Mumford delves into several critical stories shaping the current socio-political landscape. The episode covers Elon Musk’s controversial exit from the Trump administration, recent developments within the Trump administration, the impact of immigration policies on farm communities, the retreat of corporate sponsorships from Pride Month, and a notable event in the world of sumo wrestling. Additionally, the episode features a news quiz segment towards the end.

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Elon Musk’s Departure and Drug Use Revelations

The episode opens with significant news about Elon Musk’s imminent departure from the Trump administration. Tracie Mumford reports:

“President Trump said he's going to hold a press conference at the White House to say goodbye to Elon Musk. Musk's been talking about his departure from the administration for weeks, wrapping up his role that's been unlike any in the history of American government.” [00:26]

Despite never holding an official cabinet position confirmed by the Senate, Musk wielded substantial influence, particularly in promoting Trump's federal spending cuts. His departure is marked by Trump’s statement:

“This will be his last day, but not really because he will always be with us, helping all the way. He Elon is terrific.” [00:26]

The episode uncovers troubling details about Musk’s drug use during his tenure. It is revealed that while actively supporting Trump’s campaign—with donations totaling approximately $275 million—Musk was engaged in the use of substances like Ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms. Mumford states:

“He took Ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms. He told people he was having health issues that match side effects associated with chronic ketamine use.” [00:26]

Further insights include Musk’s possession of a daily medication box containing around 20 pills, including Adderall. His behavior during his time in the White House raised concerns, characterized by erratic actions such as insulting cabinet members and exhibiting Nazi-like gestures during interviews. Although Musk has previously mentioned using ketamine for depression, he did not respond to The New York Times’ inquiries, nor did the White House address whether he underwent drug testing in his role.

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Trump Administration: Tariffs and Judicial Clashes

The podcast transitions to updates on the Trump administration’s economic policies, particularly the administration’s implementation of steep tariffs. A court ruling had initially blocked these tariffs but was overturned within 24 hours by another court decision, maintaining their enforcement temporarily. Tracie Mumford explains:

"The tariffs will remain in effect while a panel of judges now decides whether the president had the power to single-handedly impose the surcharges." [00:26]

This legal back-and-forth has caused confusion among American consumers and the global economy. In response to judicial pushback, Trump officials have intensified their criticism of judges, labeling them as overstepping their authority. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt remarked:

“America cannot function if the president is being, quote, railroaded by activist judges.” [00:26]

Notably, two of the three judges who deemed the tariffs illegal were Republican appointees, including one appointed directly by Trump, highlighting internal conflicts within the administration.

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Make America Healthy Again Commission Report Controversy

Another significant topic is the Trump administration’s Make America Healthy Again commission report, released last week. Initially lauded as a comprehensive analysis addressing children’s health issues, the report was later found to contain fictitious studies concerning drug advertising, mental illness, and asthma medications in children. Mumford states:

“The report has since been reposted with corrections and at the Department of Homeland Security, I have not been satisfied with the numbers.” [00:26]

Kristi Noem and Steve Miller, along with Mumford herself, expressed dissatisfaction with the erroneous data, leading to a leadership shakeup within the Department of Homeland Security. The misuse of artificial intelligence in compiling the report was suggested by an expert on medical journalism, though the administration has not confirmed reliance on such technology.

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Immigration Crackdown and Its Impact on Farm Workers

The discussion shifts to the Trump administration’s intensified immigration policies, aiming to increase daily arrests from 700 to 3,000. This aggressive stance has resulted in high-profile resignations within the Department of Homeland Security. Tracie Mumford introduces Anna Leigh, an immigration reporter, who shares firsthand accounts from Latino farm workers facing heightened fear and anxiety:

“People have been staying home a lot more than they would otherwise. They have been avoiding going to the grocery store. They've been avoiding going to church.” [05:11]

One poignant story involves a woman whose attempt to seek help after hitting a deer resulted in her being reported by a neighbor and subsequently detained for suspicious activity. Leigh elaborates:

“It's happening in California, it's happening in Texas. Farm workers will hear about people getting picked up by the authorities, so they'll go into hiding, and then they come out when they're ready to live their lives again.” [05:26]

This cycle of fear is particularly pronounced in areas with strong Trump support, where communities are susceptible to neighborly betrayal, exacerbating the vulnerability of undocumented workers.

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Corporate Withdrawal from Pride Month Sponsorships

As Pride Month commences, Tracie Mumford highlights a significant shift in corporate support for LGBTQ+ events. Unlike previous years where numerous companies eagerly sponsored Pride parades and festivals, this year has seen a notable decline. Key points include:

• New York Pride has lost a quarter of its sponsors, including major brands like Garnier, Sky Vodka, and MasterCard, which previously held platinum sponsorships.
• Target continues its participation but prefers to keep a low profile.
• Anheuser Busch announced the withdrawal of funding for San Francisco Pride, citing budget constraints.

The decline is partly attributed to economic uncertainties, but organizers believe the Trump administration’s stance against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs plays a crucial role. The head of Milwaukee Pride remarked:

“Corporations... worried they might be penalized or punished by the government, saying, quote, everyone's afraid.” [07:07]

Experts suggest that the retreat from sponsorship may reinforce criticisms of "rainbow capitalism," where corporate support is perceived as opportunistic rather than genuine advocacy.

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Sumo Wrestling’s New Yokozuna: A Renewal for Japanese Tradition

Shifting to a lighter yet culturally significant story, the podcast covers the recent elevation of Onosato to the rank of yokozuna—the highest title in sumo wrestling. At 24 years old and weighing 420 pounds, Onosato’s ascension is hailed as a major victory for Japan’s traditional sport, which has seen waning popularity and dominance due to the rise of international wrestlers, particularly from Mongolia.

Tracie Mumford notes:

“Onosato is just the second Japanese yokozuna this century. In Japan, sumo wrestling's been losing popularity... Some sumo fans are hoping Onosato can change that, dubbing him the savior of Japanese sumo.” [08:50]

Despite the sport’s decline among younger generations who favor sports like soccer, Onosato’s achievement is seen as a potential catalyst for revitalizing interest and preserving Japan’s sumo heritage.

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News Quiz Segment

The episode concludes with an engaging news quiz, testing listeners on recent events covered by The New York Times. Topics ranged from economic policies like the "taco trade"—an acronym coined by Wall Street analysts standing for "Trump always chickens out"—to controversial expeditions in mountain climbing and the latest champions of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. While informative, the quiz serves as an interactive recap rather than addressing the main news stories.

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Conclusion

This episode of The Headlines offers a comprehensive overview of pivotal issues, from the intriguing and controversial exit of Elon Musk’s influence within the Trump administration to the tangible effects of immigration policies on vulnerable communities. Additionally, the corporate hesitancy to back Pride Month events reflects broader societal tensions, while cultural narratives like sumo wrestling's renewal offer a glimpse into Japan’s traditional practices amidst modern challenges. The inclusion of a news quiz provides an interactive element, reinforcing listeners’ engagement with current events.

Transcript

[Charles Schwab]

This podcast is supported by Charles Schwab. Decisions made in Washington can affect your portfolio every day, but what policy changes should investors be watching? Washington Wise is an original podcast from Charles Schwab that unpacks the stories making news in Washington right now and how they may affect your finances and portfolio. [e-mail] WashingtonWise.

[Tracie Mumford]

From the New York Times, it's the headlines. I'm Tracie Mumford. Today's Friday, May 30th. Here's what we're covering today. President Trump said he's going to hold a press conference at the White House to say goodbye to Elon Musk. Musk's been talking about his departure from the administration for weeks, wrapping up his role that's been unlike any in the history of American government. The world's richest man, Musk wielded a huge amount of influence in the White House, though he was never confirmed by the Senate to any official cabinet position. He was the face of Trump's federal spending cuts with his Department of Government efficiency, gleefully talking about feeding programs into the wood chipper. And he faced backlash from the public for it, too. Marking his exit, Trump wrote, quote, this will be his last day, but not really because he will always be with us, helping all the way. He Elon is terrific. As Musk leaves Washington, the Times has learned new details about his drug use when he first joined President Trump on the campaign trail. While Musk was stumping for Trump, jumping around on stage at rallies and donating about $275 million to the campaign, he was doing drugs far more intensely than previously known. As you can see, I'm not just maga. I'm dark maga. He took Ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms. He told people he was having health issues that match side effects associated with chronic ketamine use. And he traveled with a daily medication box that held about 20 pills, including ones with the markings of the stimulant Adderall. It's unclear whether Musk continued taking drugs when he started working at the White House and was given the authority to reshape the federal government. But he did exhibit erratic and troubling behavior, insulting cabinet members, garbling his answers in an interview and gesturing like a Nazi. Musk has previously said he takes ketamine for depression, though he didn't respond to requests from the Times for comment. The White House also didn't respond when asked if Musk had to take drug tests as part of his role. Now three more updates on the Trump administration, A court ruling blocking President Trump's steep tariffs was in place for less than 24 hours before a separate court paused that decision yesterday, sowing even more confusion for American consumers and the global economy. The tariffs will remain in effect while a panel of judges now decides whether the president had the power to single handedly impose the surcharges. In the meantime, Trump officials have been intensifying their attacks on judges who rule against the administration's policies. Three judges of the U.S. court of International Trade brazenly abused their judicial power to usurp the authority of President Trump. White House press secretary Caroline Levitt said America cannot function if the president is being, quote, railroaded by activist judges. Two of the trade court judges who originally found the tariffs were illegal are Republican appointees. One was named to the bench by Trump himself. Also, when the Trump administration's Make America Healthy Again commission released a report last week on children's health issues, it called this generation the sickest in American history and said its findings were a, quote, evidence based foundation for taking action. But it's now become clear the report cited studies that do not exist that included fictitious research about drug advertising, mental illness and medications for children with asthma. One expert on medical journalism said the errors were characteristic of what happens when you use artificial intelligence, though it's unclear if the commission relied on that technology. The report has since been reposted with corrections and at the Department of Homeland Security, I have not been satisfied with the numbers. Kristi Noem, Steve Miller, myself, we all want more numbers. So we expect a fast increase in number of arrests every day. Several top officials have left their jobs, part of a shakeup in leadership as the Trump administration pressures the department to ramp up deportations. The White House says immigration authorities have been arresting about 700 people a day, but it's aiming to get that number up to 3,000. Meanwhile, the Times has been reporting on how the administration's aggressive crackdown is affecting immigrant communities, in particular farm workers, many of whom are undocumented.

[Anna Leigh]

I traveled to upstate New York recently and talked to about a dozen Latino farm workers and their family members, and a lot of them are feeling really afraid of being targeted by authorities or being racially profiled.

[Tracie Mumford]

Anna Leigh covers immigration for the Times.

[Anna Leigh]

There's been a lot of anxiety these past few months. People have been staying home a lot more than they would otherwise. They have been avoiding going to the grocery store. They've been avoiding going to church. They told me they won't even sometimes get ice cream with their children. This fear that people have is heightened by the fact that they are living in a place where a lot of voters are Trump supporters, and a lot of people there seem to want these deportations to happen. There is this fear that people are going to get turned in by their neighbors, and there is evidence that this happened. I spoke with a man whose wife hit a deer while she was driving in a snowstorm. She knocked on a neighbor's door for help, and instead of getting help, the neighbor called the authorities and reported her for suspicious activity, and she was taken away by ice. What's happening in upstate New York is happening in farming communities all across the country. It's happening in California, it's happening in Texas. Farm workers will hear about people getting picked up by the authorities, so they'll go into hiding, and then they come out when they're ready to live their lives again. Then they'll hear about more activity involving law enforcement. So a lot of them told me they're caught in this cycle of fear and anxiety.

[Tracie Mumford]

This Sunday is the start of Pride Month, which will be marked by parades and festivals in cities around the country celebrating the LGBTQ community. In years past, companies big and small had jumped on board to sponsor these events, clamoring to have their logos splashed on T shirts and banners. But this year, many companies have backed away. New York Pride has had a quarter of its sponsors drop out or scale back, including Garnier, Sky Vodka and MasterCard, which were all platinum sponsors last year. Target is still participating, but asked for that to go unpublicized. And in San Francisco, Anheuser Busch, which had been one of the largest sponsors of Pride there, told the executive director earlier this year it would not be providing funding. The company said it was no longer in their budget. Other companies have also cited economic uncertainty. But Pride organizers see another factor the Trump administration's crusade against diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. The head of Milwaukee Pride said corporations he talked to worried they might be penalized or punished by the government, saying, quote, everyone's afraid. One specialist in LGBTQ marketing told the Times, corporations have actually been getting nervous for a few years as there's been growing backlash to the increased visibility of LGBTQ Americans. But this year's drop in sponsorship has added fuel to criticism that corporations only support the LGBTQ community when there's a financial benefit, a practice some dismiss as rainbow capitalism. And finally, who's boss?

[Anna Leigh]

It's Hou Shou Ryu versus Ono Sato.

[Tracie Mumford]

This week, the World of Sumo Wrestling named a new yokozuna, or grand champion, the highest title awarded in the sport. Onosato, as he's known is a 24 year old who weighs in at 420 pounds. And his ascension is a huge win for Japan, which, despite inventing sumo, has lost its dominance in the last few decades. Until the 90s, all Yokozunas were Japanese before Mongolian wrestlers started to rule the ring. Onosato is just the second Japanese yokozuna this century. In Japan, sumo wrestling's been losing popularity. It's gotten a reputation for being kind of old fashioned. The rituals before a match, like bowing and foot stomping, actually last far longer than the match itself, which is over in just seconds. Many younger Japanese people have turned to other sports instead, particularly soccer. But some sumo fans are hoping Onosato can change that, dubbing him the savior of Japanese sumo. Those are the headlines, but stick around. We've got the Friday News quiz for you after the credits. Today on the Daily Rachel Abrams talks with the business owner whose lawsuit may be the downfall of Trump's tariffs. That's next in the New York Times audio app, or you can listen wherever you get your podcasts. This show is made by Will Jarvis, Jessica Metzger, Yon Stewart and me, Tracy Mumford. Original theme by Dan Powell. Special thanks to Isabel Anderson, Larissa Anderson, Lindsey Gelman, Jake Lucas, Zoe Murphy, Katie o' Brien and Paula Schuman. Now for the quiz all May we have been giving you a chance to test your news knowledge on Fridays, and we are going to keep it going into June as well. So we've got questions about three stories the Times has covered this week. Can you answer them all? First up, the stock market surged earlier this week after President Trump pushed back the 50% tariffs he said he'd put on Europe. It's a trend economists have taken note of. Trump threatens high tariffs only to lower or delay them, sometimes within days. That pattern has now even been given its own nickname.

[Anna Leigh]

Mr. President, Wall street analysts have coined a new term called the taco trade.

[Charles Schwab]

What's your response to that?

[Tracie Mumford]

The term taco trade is an acronym. So your question what does the taco in that stand for? I'll give you a hint. The T stands for Trump. The answer is Trump always chickens out. The phrase was first used by a columnist at the Financial Times. Okay, next question. A team of British men set off a wave of controversy in the world of mountain climbing when they tested out a new way to summit Mount Everest this month. I'm going to play you a clip of the organizer of the expedition describing the climb. You'll need to fill in what their key and very divisive innovation was.

[Unnamed Expedition Organizer]

The Only reason why we are working with and why we are using is to make the climb safer. We can see people dying on Everest every year and maybe one step to improve this situation and to make climbing high altitude mountains safer.

[Tracie Mumford]

Can you tell me what the secret sauce was for their experiment? The answer is xenon gas. Leading up to the climb, about two weeks out, the team inhaled the gas, which effectively tricked their bodies into thinking they were already at high altitude. They were then able to get to the top of the world's highest mountain in less than three days without needing to acclimate, a process that would normally take weeks. Interestingly, while very fast, three days is not a record. According to the government of Nepal, the fastest climb of the mountain ever was done in 2003 by a sherpa who reached the summit in just under 11 hours. Okay, last question. Your word is A. Claire C. Small. Last night was the final round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, just celebrating its 100th anniversary eclair.

[Anna Leigh]

Sissement E C L A I R C I S S E M E N T Equisal.

[Tracie Mumford]

That is correct. The winner was 13 year old Faison Zaki from Texas, who won the competition and its prize of $50,000. Now we're going to test your spelling skills. We're going to back up a few rounds to do that since you already know how to spell eclaircissement. So I will give you a word from the semifinals.

[Unnamed Spelling Bee Contestant]

Your word is Quern. Quern is a noun. This word is originally English. Quern means a simple mill for grinding grain consisting of two circular stones with the upper one being turned by hand.

[Tracie Mumford]

Okay, can you spell quern? I feel like your brow may be furrowing. Okay, time is up. I'm going to let fifth grader Sarv Dharavnay, who came in third, give you the answer. Quorn Q U E R N. Quern.

[Charles Schwab]

That is correct.

[Anna Leigh]

Thank you.

[Tracie Mumford]

That is it for this week's news quiz. If you want to tell us how you did, what you think about the quiz, you can always email us@the headlinesytimes.com the show will be back on Monday and we'll try a few more questions next Friday.