Podcast Summary: "What A Day" – Episode: "Sec. Pete Hegseth Is In My DMs"

Host: Jane Coston
Release Date: March 25, 2025
Podcast: What A Day by Crooked Media

1. Introduction

In this episode of What A Day, host Jane Coston delves into pressing national issues, primarily focusing on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under its new administrator, Lee Zeldin. The episode also covers a controversial incident involving Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and interactions with a journalist on the messaging app Signal, alongside updates on the Trump administration's legal maneuvers and appointments.

2. The EPA's Shift Under Lee Zeldin

Overview:
The EPA, established by Republican President Richard Nixon with a mission to protect the environment, is undergoing significant changes under the leadership of Lee Zeldin. Contrary to its traditional focus on environmental protection, Zeldin appears to be steering the agency towards promoting American AI dominance and energy sector reforms.

Notable Quote:
Lee Zeldin on Fox News:
“At the end of the day, we are about powering the great American comeback, making sure that cleaner, safer, healthier land, air, water for all Americans are achieved. But we also do it unleashing energy dominance, making America the capital, the world, bringing back American auto jobs, pursuing permitting reform, and much more.”
Timestamp: [01:11]

Key Points Discussed:

• Energy vs. Environment:
  Jane Coston highlights the irony in the EPA's current trajectory, emphasizing that artificial intelligence (AI) endeavors are energy-intensive. She cites Google's 2024 report indicating a nearly 50% increase in greenhouse gas emissions since 2019 due to its AI focus, underscoring the environmental implications of such technological advancements.

• Deregulation Efforts:
  Under Zeldin, the EPA is purportedly rolling back numerous environmental regulations, terminating grants, and reducing oversight to favor corporate interests. Coston criticizes this shift, suggesting it undermines the agency's foundational goals of pollution control and environmental safeguarding.

3. Interview with Gina McCarthy: The EPA's Defender

Guest: Gina McCarthy
Background: Former EPA Administrator under President Obama and first White House National Climate Advisor under President Biden.

Discussion Highlights:

• EPA’s Crucial Roles:
  McCarthy elucidates the EPA's comprehensive responsibilities, from regulating industries and managing pollution in landfills to collaborating with local communities and allocating 40% of its funding to state-level environmental initiatives.

  Quote:
  “EPA does everything from, you know, regulating industries to making sure landfills don't drop all their pollution into Rivers and streams... They don't understand how difficult and complicated it is to actually keep people safe.”
  Timestamp: [02:45]

• Impact of Project 2025:
  McCarthy explains that Project 2025 aims to significantly reduce the federal government's capacity to operate effectively, with a clear intention to dismantle foundational EPA protections.

  Quote:
  “That's code word for saying I'm shifting those under the rug and we're not going to implement them anymore... They're doing everything they can to make it really impossible to continue to move forward at EPA.”
  Timestamp: [04:08]

• Consequences of Deregulation:
  Removing critical regulations like the Endangerment Finding, which acknowledges the harmful effects of greenhouse gases, would effectively negate climate change considerations in policy-making.

  Quote:
  “It would mean that we have to deny that climate change actually exists... It's pretty much a total effort to deny not just science and not just EPA's mission.”
  Timestamp: [06:13]

• Local vs. Federal Action:
  In response to federal rollbacks, McCarthy expresses hope in state and local governments stepping up to continue environmental protection efforts.

  Quote:
  “If the federal government is out to lunch, we're going to eat their lunch... If we continue to move forward at the local level, at least we can keep moving our country forward.”
  Timestamp: [07:32]

4. The Controversy: Pete Hegseth in a Signal Group Chat

Incident Overview:
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is embroiled in controversy after journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief of The Atlantic, alleged that Hegseth inadvertently shared sensitive war plans in a private Signal group chat. The chat purportedly included high-ranking officials like Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Key Details:

• Goldberg’s Account:
  Goldberg received a connection request from a user resembling National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and was later added to a group named "Houthi PC Small Group." He claims that Hegseth sent him operational details regarding impending strikes on Yemen at 11:44 AM, potentially exposing US military strategies to adversaries.

• Responses:

  • Lee Zeldin’s Reaction:
    Initially dismissive, Zeldin described Goldberg as a “deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist” without addressing the core issue.

    Quote:
    “I don't know anything about it. I'm not a big fan of the Atlantic... I think it's not much of a magazine, but I know nothing about it.”
    Timestamp: [17:13]

  • White House's Stance:
    National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes affirmed the authenticity of the group chat but framed it as evidence of “deep and thoughtful policy coordination” among senior officials.

    Quote:
    “The group chat appears to be authentic... a demonstration of the deep and thoughtful policy coordination between senior officials.”
    Timestamp: [14:54]

• Judicial Repercussions:
  The incident has sparked calls for an investigation, though the Trump administration is countering by seeking Supreme Court intervention to block lower court decisions unfavorable to them.

5. Trump Administration's Legal and Political Maneuvers

A. Rehiring of Federal Workers:

• Background:
  The Trump administration had targeted around 16,000 federal workers for termination to reduce government size. A federal judge in San Francisco deemed the process flawed and mandated that some agencies reinstate these workers.

• Supreme Court Involvement:
  The administration has appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing that the lower court judge overstepped by infringing on the separation of powers.

B. Supreme Court Decisions:

• Freedom of the Press Case:
  The Court declined to hear Steve Wynn's challenge to New York Times v. Sullivan, maintaining strong protections for journalists against libel suits related to reporting on public figures.

  Context:
  Wynn had sued the Associated Press over past sexual misconduct allegations, which he denies.

C. Nomination of Susan Menarez to CDC:

• Announcement:
  President Trump nominated Susan Menarez, the acting director since January, to permanently lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

• Background:
  Menarez, with a PhD, would be the first non-physician to head the CDC in over five decades, succeeding the previously nominated Dave Weldon whose nomination was withdrawn.

  Quote from Trump on Truth Social:
  “Menarez will work closely with our great Secretary of Health and Human services, Robert Kennedy Jr. Together, they will prioritize accountability, high standards and disease prevention to finally address the chronic disease epidemic and make America healthy again.”
  Timestamp: [17:08]

6. Additional News Briefs

• Alien Enemies Act Deportations:
  The White House is defending deportation flights to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act. Circuit Judge Patricia Millett criticized the administration for inadequate notification and due process, comparing the treatment to that of Nazis under the same act.

  Quote from McCarthy:
  “Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemy act than has happened here.”
  Timestamp: [19:36]

• Trump's Relations with Media:
  Coston touches upon the strained relationship between Trump administration officials and journalists, exemplified by the Pete Hegseth Signal chat incident and the administration's dismissive stance towards The Atlantic.

7. Conclusion

In this episode, Jane Coston provides a critical examination of the Trump administration's environmental policies, legal challenges, and controversial interactions with the media. Through her interview with Gina McCarthy, listeners gain insight into the potential ramifications of the EPA's deregulation and the broader implications for climate change and public health. The controversy involving Pete Hegseth underscores ongoing tensions between the administration and journalistic integrity. Finally, updates on legal battles and key nominations reflect the administration's continued efforts to shape governmental operations and public policy amidst significant opposition.

Note: This summary excludes advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections to focus solely on the substantive discussions presented in the episode.