The Headlines — Episode Summary

Podcast: The Headlines (The New York Times)
Air Date: November 25, 2025
Episode: Trump’s Retribution Campaign Hits a Major Roadblock, and Health Care Costs Set to Surge
Host: Tracy Mumford

Episode Overview

This episode centers on two major news stories: the dismissal of high-profile prosecutions against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James—both seen as targets of Trump’s retribution campaign—and the looming surge in health care costs as Obamacare subsidies near expiration. Additional stories include a tense Trump-Xi call covering trade and Taiwan, new research on the benefits of social media detox, the ongoing struggles facing Broadway musicals, and the growing use of AI in holiday shopping.

Main Discussion Points and Insights

1. Major Legal Setback for Trump’s Justice Department

• [00:47–03:13]

• Federal judge throws out criminal charges against James Comey (former FBI Director) and Letitia James (New York Attorney General).

• Both figured prominently among Trump’s so-called “political enemies.”

• Charges:

  • Comey: Lying to Congress
  • James: Bank fraud

• Core issue: The indictments overseen by Lindsay Halligan were invalid due to the unlawful nature of her appointment as U.S. Attorney (second interim appointment without Senate confirmation).

• The judge warned that allowing this would undermine the entire system of Senate-confirmed U.S. attorneys, paving the way for unchecked presidential power.

  Devlin Barrett, Times reporter, [02:21]:
  “If you were to allow this system to continue ... you really wouldn’t have any more Senate-confirmed U.S. attorneys. It would just be the president picks whoever they want, whenever they want, and they just keep doing that.”

• White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt indicates an appeal is planned, and Comey’s lawyers expect to argue the charges can never be refiled due to the expiring statute of limitations.

2. Trump-Xi Jinping Call: Trade Tensions and Taiwan

• [03:14–04:30]
• President Trump and Xi Jinping engaged in a rare hour-long call focusing on U.S.–China trade relations.
• U.S. farmers continue to struggle due to ongoing trade disputes, as China fails to meet promised soybean purchases (less than 2 million tons bought out of 12 million promised).
• Chinese summary reveals Xi raised Taiwan—an issue that has prompted military commitments from Japan and earlier Biden administration statements but remains ambiguous under Trump.

3. Obamacare Subsidies and the Health Care Cost Surge

• [04:30–05:10]

• Trump is considering extending Obamacare subsidies, a position previously championed by Democrats.

• The expiration threatens to double or more the premiums for millions of Americans by year-end.

• Political pressure mounts for Republicans, as they will bear the electoral consequences if costs spike.

  Unnamed Republican strategist, [04:59]:
  “They’re in charge and so if those bills skyrocket, that’s who voters are going to look to to fix it.”

4. Study: Social Media Detox and Mental Health

• [05:10–06:22]

• New study in JAMA Network Open suggests that reducing social media (to half an hour/day) for a week improves young adults’ anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

• Notably, time spent on phones remained steady—benefits likely stem from reduced negative comparison, not just less screen time.

• Researchers stress this is preliminary—small sample, no control, short duration—and not a replacement for professional care.

  Study author (via Times), [06:14]:
  “For people who feel they’re struggling…it’s likely worth experimenting to see whether reducing social media helps you feel better.”

5. Broadway’s Ongoing Struggles

• [06:22–08:50]
• High-profile musical “Queen of Versailles” (Kristin Chenoweth, Stephen Schwartz) shutters just weeks after opening, joining other failures like “Boop” and a poorly-received “Cabaret” revival.
• Soaring production costs, audience preference for established hits, and fewer new successes.
• Legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Webber worries the economics aren’t sustainable for new musicals.
  • Quote, [08:30]:
    • “I am very worried. I look at the economics of this and I just don’t see how it can sustain.”
      — Andrew Lloyd Webber, to the Times
• In contrast, straight plays (cheaper to stage) find success thanks to celebrity casting—e.g., “Good Night and Good Luck” (George Clooney), “Othello” (Denzel Washington, Jake Gyllenhaal).

6. AI Takes Over Holiday Gift Shopping

• [08:50–10:30]
• Nearly half of shoppers are using AI for holiday gift ideas, list-making, or consulting retailer chatbots.
• OpenAI’s ChatGPT “buy button” now lets users purchase recommended products directly, with OpenAI taking a sales cut.
• Shoppers appreciate the AI-powered curation, with one remarking:
  • Quote, [10:25]:
    • “If my family doesn’t like their gifts… I’ll blame it on ChatGPT.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• James Comey, [00:47]:

  “I’m grateful that the court ended the case against me, which was a prosecution based on malevolence and incompetence.”

• Judge’s Reasoning, paraphrased by Devlin Barrett, [02:20]:

  “The government could send any private citizen off the street into the grand jury room to secure an indictment, so long as the attorney general gives her approval after the fact. That cannot be the law.”

• Andrew Lloyd Webber’s concern for Broadway, [08:30]:

  “I look at the economics of this and I just don’t see how it can sustain.”

• AI holiday shopper, [10:25]:

  “If my family doesn’t like their gifts… I’ll blame it on ChatGPT.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment Title | Time | |------------------------------------|------------| | Court throws out Comey & James cases | 00:47–03:13 | | Trump-Xi call, trade & Taiwan | 03:14–04:30 | | Obamacare subsidies & health care costs | 04:30–05:10 | | Social media detox study | 05:10–06:22 | | Broadway’s struggle | 06:22–08:50 | | AI-powered holiday shopping | 08:50–10:30 |

Episode Takeaways

• Trump’s attempts to use the DOJ for political payback suffered a major blow, reinforcing checks on executive power.
• U.S.–China tensions simmer as trade promises falter and Taiwan looms larger geopolitically.
• Health care premiums could surge without action, putting political heat on the current administration.
• A week-long social media break can yield surprising mental health benefits, though research is early-stage.
• Broadway musicals face a crisis, while plays thrive—signaling deep changes in live theater economics.
• AI is rapidly reshaping consumer habits—even in holiday shopping—with implications for both retailers and family gift traditions.