Episode Transcript: The Excerpt
Date: Thursday, February 20, 2025
Host: Taylor Wilson
Segment 1: Trump and Zelenskyy’s Strained Relationship
Wilson: President Donald Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a dictator without elections in a Truth Social post yesterday. This is the latest in a series of exchanges between the two leaders after US and Russian officials met without Ukrainian representation to discuss terms for ending Russia’s invasion. Zelenskyy had canceled an election scheduled for Spring 2024, citing the ongoing war and the imposition of martial law.
Segment 2: Corruption Charges Against New York City Mayor Dismissed
Wilson: New York City Mayor Eric Adams proclaimed his innocence yesterday before a federal judge considering a Justice Department motion to dismiss corruption charges against him. US District Judge Dale Ho did not issue a ruling, expressing concerns about the prosecutor’s unusual request to drop the charges without prejudice, meaning the case could be brought again.
Segment 3: Lawsuit Challenges Trump’s Anti-Diversity Orders
Wilson: Three civil rights groups filed a federal lawsuit yesterday seeking to overturn President Donald Trump’s executive orders on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Bart Jansen, USA TODAY Justice Department Correspondent, joins us.
Jansen: The plaintiffs argue that the orders, which would block spending on organizations with DEI policies, violate their rights to free speech and due process. These groups, including the National Urban League, the National Fair Housing Alliance, and the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, contend that they would be unable to continue providing essential services to marginalized communities if federal funding is withheld.
Segment 4: Hamas Returns Bodies of Youngest Gaza Hostages
Wilson: Hamas leaders turned over the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two sons, Kfir and Ariel, yesterday, the two youngest captives taken by Hamas in their October 7, 2023 attack. Kfir was just nine months old and Ariel was four years old when they were kidnapped along with their parents. Hamas had claimed that the boys and their mother had been killed in an Israeli airstrike, but no evidence was provided.
Segment 5: Federal Government Releases New Sex-Based Definitions
Wilson: The federal government has released new guidelines regarding sex-based definitions and a two-gender policy, as announced by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY Congress and Campaigns Reporter, provides details.
Kuchar: The guidelines, issued in accordance with President Trump’s executive order, define sex as "a person’s immutable biological classification" and recognize only two genders. The new definitions have been met with criticism, and the Trump administration’s broader efforts to overturn Biden-era gender-related policies are likely to face legal challenges.
Segment 6: Men in Caregiving Roles Face Unique Challenges
Wilson: As the population ages, more men are becoming caregivers for older family members. Jason Resendez, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Caregiving, discusses the specific challenges faced by male caregivers:
Resendez: There is a bias against male caregivers due to societal assumptions about their role. This can lead to isolation and distress that is distinct from the challenges faced by women in caregiving roles.
