WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - The Lazy Susan: Spring Break Deportations

Episode Date: March 25, 2025

Lewis Thune and Paden Hughes recap how deportations and energy wring in Spring for the cabinet.

You're listening to Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7FEN. And this is The Lazy Susan. I'm Lewis Thin. And I'm Paden Hughes. On the Lazy Susan, we highlight happenings in the cabinet on a weekly basis. On today's episode, we'll cover events from the week of spring break, as well as this week. So let's dive in. What's happening in the cabinet, Lewis?

Linda McMahon is in as Secretary of Education, passing her Senate confirmation about 51 to 45 on March 3rd. The only outstanding cabinet position is now the Department of Labor, for which nominee Lori Chavez-Durimer will presumably be confirmed, clearing her committee vote 14 to 9 with support from Democrats. What's catching your eye this week, Peyton? Secretary Christie Noem in the Department of Homeland Security. She has led a heavy deportation of her in the early months of her tenure, and that effort has seriously discouraged illegal immigration at the southern border. Since Secretary Noem took charge on January 25th, border crossings have plummeted 94. On Wednesday night, she was on scene as ICE conducted a raid that resulted in the arrest of several MS-13 gang members as well as accused sex criminals.

Details of this raid were once again leaked, but the operation still succeeded in executing its near 100 warrants. Nome, as well as immigration and customs enforcement chief, Tom Homan, have both made public statements locating the source of these leaks as originating within the FBI. Despite setbacks, Secretary Nome has been an invaluable piece of the Trump administration's mass deportation. effort. What else is going on, Lewis? Amid an escalating trade war with Canada, the Trump administration's efforts to balloon American energy are coming front and center. And to that effect, Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Secretary of the Interior of Doug Bergam are both headed to Louisiana in an attempt to encourage American energy companies to start expanding immediately. The occasion for the two secretaries

in the same location is the Venture Global Export Facility in Placmines Parish, which is beginning an $18 billion expansion to output 41 million tons of liquefied natural gas per year and create an estimate of more than 10,000 jobs in 30 different states. The PR opportunity for the Secretaries to highlight new American jobs and slash regulations is enormous. We'll be closely monitoring the results of this touchpoint in American energy. Also of note as we approach a new week, multiple reports this week indicated Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had halted U.S. cyber operations against Russia in the lead-up to the much publicized meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. The Pentagon denied the reports, but neither Hegsef nor his

Department of Defense have taken questions on this matter. And that's where we'll leave off for this episode of The Lazy Susan. I'm Louis Thune. And I'm Peyton Hughes. We'll see you next time.