The Excerpt: Trump Targets Education Department, Roberts Rebukes Trump, Sextortion Dangers, and March Madness Begins

Thursday, March 20th, 2025

Welcome to The Excerpt, your daily briefing on the most important news stories from USA Today. I’m Taylor Wilson.

Today, we lead with President Donald Trump’s ambitious move to eliminate the Department of Education, fulfilling a key campaign promise. We’ll also examine the significance of Chief Justice John Roberts’ rare public rebuke of President Trump, signaling a growing tension between the executive and judicial branches. Additionally, we’ll delve into the growing problem of sextortion and the concerning rise of companies that exploit victims’ desperation, and finally, we’ll gear up for the excitement of March Madness.

Trump Aims to Eliminate Education Department

President Donald Trump is poised to sign an executive order today that aims to dismantle the Department of Education. This action follows weeks of planning within the White House and marks a significant step in fulfilling a major campaign pledge. The signing ceremony is expected to be attended by several Republican governors and state education commissioners, highlighting the support for this initiative within certain political circles.

The executive order is likely to face immediate legal challenges, particularly from those who believe it exceeds the President’s authority. The recent blocking of the Trump administration’s attempt to shut down the US Agency for International Development by a federal district judge in Maryland underscores the potential legal hurdles ahead. This latest attempt to reshape federal agencies will undoubtedly be scrutinized and contested in the courts, setting the stage for a protracted legal battle over the limits of presidential power.

Chief Justice Roberts Rebukes Trump Amid Judicial Showdown

The relationship between the Trump administration and the judiciary appears to be increasingly strained, exemplified by a rare public statement from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. This rebuke came in response to President Trump’s calls on Truth Social for the impeachment of a judge who ruled against the administration’s mass deportation policies. Trump’s posts suggested that other judges should also face impeachment for unfavorable rulings.

Chief Justice Roberts issued a statement emphasizing the importance of judicial independence, stating that disagreeing with a judge’s ruling is not grounds for impeachment. He reiterated that the proper avenue for challenging judicial decisions is through the appeals process, ultimately potentially reaching the Supreme Court. While not explicitly mentioning President Trump by name, the statement was widely interpreted as a direct critique of the President’s attacks on the judiciary.

USA TODAY Justice Department correspondent Aysha Bagchi joined the podcast to provide further insights into the growing conflict between the Trump administration and the courts. She highlighted the numerous executive actions taken by the administration that have already been challenged in court, including policies related to deportation, the firing of federal workers, the ban on transgender troops in the military, and challenges to birthright citizenship.

Bagchi noted that administration officials have hinted at defying court orders, although Trump himself stated in an interview that they would not do so. However, the willingness of some officials to entertain the idea of disregarding judicial rulings underscores the administration’s aggressive approach to the legal system. The unprecedented nature of this conflict, with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court publicly responding to the President’s attacks, suggests a significant challenge to the institutional independence of the judiciary.

Federal Reserve Holds Steady on Interest Rates

In other economic news, the Federal Reserve decided to leave interest rates unchanged, maintaining the benchmark federal funds rate at a range of four and a quarter to four and a half percent. This decision marks the second consecutive meeting where the Fed has held rates steady, following a period of significant increases and reductions over the past three years. The move reflects a cautious approach to an uncertain economic outlook. Stock indexes responded positively to the Fed’s decision, closing sharply higher.

Sextortion and the Rise of Exploitative "Recovery" Companies

The growing prevalence of sextortion in the United States, particularly among teenagers, is a serious concern. Sextortion involves predators, often based abroad, deceiving victims into sending nude images or engaging in compromising video calls, and then threatening to release those images unless a ransom is paid. The emotional and financial toll on victims can be devastating.

USA TODAY Youth Mental Health Reporting Fellow Rachel Hale discussed the alarming trend of for-profit companies that claim to help sextortion victims retrieve their explicit photos but often fail to do so, while charging exorbitant fees. Hale and colleague Nick Penzenstadler spoke with around three dozen people who sought help from one such company, Digital Forensics Corporation (DFC), after being sextorted.

One victim, a 44-year-old man, had already paid $2,000 to his scammer before turning to DFC in desperation. He paid DFC $3,000 under the impression that they could delete the photos, but they were ultimately unsuccessful. The man felt that DFC’s sales tactics, employed while he was in a state of heightened emotional distress, were predatory. Many victims report feeling suicidal, experiencing difficulty eating and sleeping, and struggling in isolation, often reluctant to share their experiences.

DFC defends its business practices, claiming to address consumer complaints diligently and maintain high customer satisfaction. They assert that they do not allow minors to become direct clients without parental or legal guardian involvement. However, the FBI has cautioned against using these for-profit services, emphasizing that law enforcement and nonprofit agencies offer assistance for free. Victims are encouraged to report to the FBI, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (for those under 18), or ncii.org (for those over 18) for assistance with removing explicit images from the internet.

March Madness Tips Off

Finally, with the arrival of spring comes the excitement of March Madness. The Men’s College basketball tournament begins today, followed by the Women’s tournament tomorrow. For full coverage and the chance to enter your bracket, visit USA Today Sports. Don’t miss the deadline of noon eastern time today to submit your picks for the men’s tournament.

Thank you for listening to The Excerpt. You can find the podcast wherever you get your audio. I’m Taylor Wilson, and I’ll be back tomorrow with more news from USA Today.