Trump taps Musk, Ramaswamy to lead new 'Department of Government Efficiency'

The GOP has won a trifecta in Washington. Plus, Sen. John Thune will be the next Senate majority leader, while President-elect Donald Trump continues to build his next staff.USA TODAY White House Correspondent Joey Garrison takes a closer look at the tasks Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will be asked to do as part of a new 'Department of Government Efficiency.'USA TODAY Reporter Andrea Riquier explains how mass deportations could make a housing shortage worse.Inflation is still here, according to the latest Consumer Price Index.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While the U.S. is, on the whole, a wealthy country, currently one in eight Americans is food insecure. Meanwhile, more than a third of food produced goes uneaten or unsold. That’s roughly 90 million pounds according to ReFED, a research and advocacy group focused on eliminating food waste. Most of that food ends up in landfills where it becomes a big contributor to climate change because of the huge amounts of methane gas that are released as it decomposes. Is there a way to solve these two problems together by simply using the food surplus to feed more people instead of sending it to landfills? ReFED President Dana Gunders joins The Excerpt to dig into this meaty issue. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President-elect Donald Trump continues sketching out what his next presidency will look like.USA TODAY National Correspondent Will Carless discusses Donald Trump's promises about pardoning January 6 insurrectionists, and what such pardons would potentially mean for the far right movement.A New York court suspends all current deadlines in Donald Trump's New York hush money case.USA TODAY Supreme Court Correspondent Maureen Groppe looks at the future of several issues circling the high court.The Pentagon classified document leaker has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.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.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris appeared together Monday for a Veterans Day ceremony.USA TODAY Congress & Campaigns Reporter Riley Beggin takes a lot at the race for Senate leader.President-elect Donald Trump asks Rep. Mike Waltz to be national security adviser.USA TODAY Wellness Reporter Alyssa Goldberg discusses how some women are stockpiling Plan B and abortion pills following the election.2024 is 'virtually certain' to be the warmest year on record, scientists say.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

President-elect Donald Trump has made some early decisions about his Cabinet.USA TODAY National Immigration Reporter Lauren Villagran takes a look at what a new Trump administration means for immigrants nationwide.Democrats' working-class exodus has set off a reckoning within the party.An Idaho health agency has halted its COVID vaccine program, joining a backlash elsewhere.USA TODAY National Correspondent Elizabeth Weise previews the COP29 climate summit beginning Monday, and what impact the aftermath of the U.S. election will hold.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.

Close to 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s today. However, that number is expect to balloon to 13 million by 2050 which will put strains on families and the healthcare system. What can you do to prepare for a potential future with Alzheimer's? We ask Dr. Joanne Pike, CEO of the Alzheimer's Association to help explain the challenges and hopes when it comes to this debilitating disease.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.

House races will still be counted through the weekend, as the GOP nears control of the chamber.USA TODAY Trending News Reporter Kinsey Crowley discusses how voters approached a number of ballot issues. Plus, what does this election mean for the transgender community?Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly congratulated Donald Trump, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Trump earlier this week to congratulate him.Three men have been charged in a murder-for-hire plot, including one accused of trying to kill Donald Trump in revenge for the death of a top Iranian military commander.USA TODAY Education Reporter Zachary Schermele breaks down what a new Trump administration might mean for higher education.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.

USA TODAY Congress & Campaigns Reporter Riley Beggin discusses what a GOP trifecta in Washington would look like.President-elect Donald Trump pledged to follow though with mass deportations, in an interview with NBC News.USA TODAY Justice Department Correspondent Aysha Bagchi breaks down several reasons why President-elect Donald Trump may never be sentenced in his New York criminal hush money case.The Federal Reserve lowered its key interest rate by a quarter percentage point Thursday. What does that mean for mortgages and more?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 Department of Justice is accusing the tech giant of maintaining an illegal monopoly in its search and advertising sectors. If Google is dismantled, how might that impact the way Americans access information? Florian Ederer, a professor at Boston University's Questrom School of Business, joins The Excerpt to discuss what happens next in the federal case that could lead to an historic breakup.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.

Vice President Kamala Harris has conceded. Plus, USA TODAY Washington Bureau Chief Susan Page takes a look at what's next.How did President-elect Donald Trump win?USA TODAY Personal Finance Reporter Daniel de Visé explains how business leaders could influence the next Trump presidency.Stocks rallied to record highs Wednesday.The Justice Department is weighing how to drop charges against Donald Trump.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.