President-elect Donald Trump over the weekend tapped Brooke Rollins for Secretary of Agriculture. Plus, Trump tapped Russell Vought, a Project 2025 architect, to lead the budget office.Tennessean State Government and Politics Reporter Melissa Brown explains how a Tennessee teenager could change transgender rights nationwide.Public faith in US institutions continues to erode, as Trump takes aim at dismantling parts of the government.USA TODAY Senior National Political Correspondent Sarah D. Wire examines what the next Democratic resistance movement might look like.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steven Procopio, a licensed clinical social worker and expert in men’s issues, dives into the overlooked topic of male victims of sex trafficking. He sheds light on how societal perceptions often neglect this group, despite the trauma they face. Procopio discusses the recent high-profile case of Michael Jeffries, revealing how it could encourage more male survivors to share their stories. He elaborates on the vulnerabilities that lead to exploitation, particularly among boys with disabilities, and highlights the internet's role in this modern crisis.

Donald Trump's sentencing in a hush money case faces indefinite delay, raising questions about his political future. The podcast delves into Mike Huckabee's new role as ambassador to Israel and the influence of Christian Zionism on U.S. politics. Controversy brews in Texas as biblical stories are approved for elementary reading materials, challenging public education norms. Additionally, there's a discussion on the future of diversity initiatives and the impact of political changes. Finally, a supportive Reddit community offers guidance to first-time homebuyers, showcasing uplifting connections.

Matt Gaetz steps back amid swirling controversy, leading to Pam Bondi's swift nomination as Attorney General. The podcast explores the implications for Trump’s cabinet choices and his administration's rapid pace. A key figure returns to influence contentious immigration policies, including mass deportation plans. Global conflicts intensify with new war crime allegations against Israeli leadership. Meanwhile, the social media landscape shifts as Bluesky attracts millions following Trump's election, reshaping political discourse.

In the US, demand for power from AI data centers is skyrocketing, driven by the intensive computational requirements of its models, which often require vast amounts of energy for both training and operation. Then there are also AI’s carbon emissions. In many cases, the electricity used to power the AI data centers today relies on nonrenewable energy sources such as coal or gas. Can we afford AI’s huge environmental costs? Landon Marston, an associate professor at Viriginia Tech’s Environmental and Water Resources Engineering program, joins The Excerpt to discuss how engineers and policymakers are approaching solving for AI in the long-term.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

California police have released details about a sexual assault report on Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Defense Department. Plus, the House Ethics Commission has reviewed records detailing $10,000 in Venmo payments Matt Gaetz allegedly made to two women in the panel's probe. Gaetz is Trump's nominee for attorney general.USA TODAY Democracy Reporter Erin Mansfield discusses allegations of sexual abuse against Robert F. Kennedy Jr.Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy outline plans for 'large-scale firings' in the federal workforce under Donald Trump.USA TODAY Education Reporter Zach Schermele takes a look at the future of higher education, and examines Donald Trump's pick to lead the Department of Education - Linda McMahon.House Speaker Mike Johnson announces a transgender bathroom ban in the Capitol.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

AI applications in vertical farming have the potential to usher in a new model that not only yields a high volume of quality product, but also offers a much smaller carbon footprint in terms of resources and the space necessary to deploy them. By incorporating AI, robotics and vertically stacked crops in controlled environmental conditions, the vertical farming model might be a gamechanger in the agricultural sector. Hiroki Koga, co-founder and CEO of Oishii, the company behind the world's largest indoor vertical farm, joins The Excerpt to share his insights into how AI is transforming farming potential.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What's next for President-elect Donald Trump's hush money sentencing?USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers talks through how the Biden administration is addressing aid to Ukraine in its final weeks.Donald Trump taps TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Plus, he picks Linda McMahon to be education secretary.USA TODAY National Correspondent Rick Jervis discusses immigrant advocates' concerns about children under Trump immigration plans.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Israel has intensified its bombardment in and around Beirut, and Hezbollah has kept up missile fire into Israel, while U.S.-led diplomacy progresses.USA TODAY National Immigration Reporter Lauren Villagran discusses President-elect Donald Trump's comment about using the military to carry out mass deportations.President Joe Biden asks Congress for $100 billion to aid recovery from hurricanes and other disasters.President-elect Donald Trump picks Fox host Sean Duffy for Transportation secretary.USA TODAY Wellness Reporter Charles Trepany talks about why some Gen Z men are shifting to the right.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Biden administration will allow Ukraine to use U.S. weapons to strike deep inside Russian territory.USA TODAY White House Correspondent Francesca Chambers discusses how world leaders are approaching the transition from Biden to Trump.As President-elect Donald Trump retakes the White House, climate-change experts are preparing for another fight.USA TODAY Congress, Campaigns and Democracy Reporter Sudiksha Kochi talks about how Donald Trump could still face some pushback from members of his own party, despite GOP trifecta control in Washington.Forensic science failures persist as labs fail to adopt standards.Episode Transcript available hereAlso available at art19.com/shows/5-ThingsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.