WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - The Lazy Susan: Signal Revisited and DOGE Trouble

Episode Date: April 25, 2025

Lewis explores this week’s events in the cabinet: new Signal leaks, Secretary Bessent vs Elon Musk, and HHS making headlines

You're listening to Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. And this is The Lazy Susan. I'm Louis Thune. On the Lazy Susan, we highlight happenings in the cabinet on a weekly basis. But this week, my co-host, Peyton Hughes, lost his voice. So I'll be flying solo as we take a look at what's going on inside the cabinet. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has withdrawn from this week's planned peace talks in the United Kingdom with Ukrainian and European officials in regards to the current war between.

Ukraine and Russia. Elsewhere in the cabinet, Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noem had her purse containing high-level security clearance, identification, and multiple thousand dollars stolen at a D.C. dinner, with the culprit yet to be found. A bigger story emerging from this week is the embattled Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, as whistleblowers within the Department of Defense alleged he shared confidential information with his wife and relatives in another signal group chat. This comes on the heels of the first signal controversy, wherein administration officials discussed military operations in a signal chat, which unknowingly featured editor of the Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg. Hegset has denied that he shared confidential information and blamed a recent

spate of firings, which targeted leaguers within the Pentagon, as the source of the latest controversy. Yet another developing story, Elon Musk has embraced a large role within the Trump cabinet with his Department of Government Efficiency, headlining staffing cuts in major executive departments. But reports this week are indicating Musk is preparing to take a diminished role in the Trump Cabinet in order to address concerns about his companies. Axios is also reporting that tensions between Musk and the presidential cabinet are beginning to mount. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant is said to have engaged in a recent and prominent shouting

match with Musk within earshot of President Trump, with the reported issue being over IRS reforms. The service has already seen multiple rounds of firings under the Trump administration, but the word from the White House this week is that Besant and Musk greatly disagree as to how much restructuring is warranted. We'll monitor this one closely. Also of note as we approach a new week, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced multiple probes into causes of autism and also announced an impending ban on petroleum-based food dyes. And the Trump Education Department has announced its intent to end the Biden administration's moratorium on collection for defaulted student loan debts. Starting May 5th, up to 5 million borrowers will have to resume payment. And that's where we'll leave off for this episode of The Lazy Susan. I'm Louis Thu.

We'll see you next time.