The Headlines
Trump’s Defiant Victory Lap, and the Dept. of Education’s ‘Final Mission’
Wed, 5 Mar 2025
Plus, the sky-high cost of concert tickets. On Today’s Episode:6 Takeaways From Trump’s Address to Congress, by Tyler PagerWarning That Trump Will ‘Make You Pay,’ Slotkin Gives Democratic Response, by Annie KarniRepublican House Members Told to Stop Holding In-Person Town Halls, by Catie EdmondsonTrump’s Trade War Could Be His Biggest Economic Gamble, by Alan Rappeport and Ana Swanson‘Final Mission’ for Education Dept. Begins Now, McMahon Says, by Michael C. BenderZelensky Offers Terms to Stop Fighting, Assuring U.S. That Ukraine Wants Peace, by Marc Santora7 Tesla Charging Stations Torched Near Boston, by Sara RubergConcert Ticket Prices Are Soaring, and Busting Gen Z’s Budgets, by Melissa RohmanTune in every weekday morning. To get our full audio journalism and storytelling experience, download the New York Times Audio app — available to Times news subscribers on iOS — and sign up for our weekly newsletter.Tell us what you think at: [email protected].
Chapter 1: What are the key takeaways from Trump's address to Congress?
Last night, President Trump delivered a forceful primetime address to Congress. It was the longest speech of its kind in modern presidential history. Over the course of an hour and 40 minutes, Trump went on a kind of defiant victory lap, celebrating the blitz of drastic changes he's made to domestic and foreign policy. My colleague Jonathan Swan was covering the speech.
It was contentious from the very beginning.
We won the popular vote by big numbers and won counties in our country.
Chapter 2: How did Democratic representatives respond to Trump's speech?
Early in the speech, Democratic Representative Al Green of Texas stood up and started heckling Trump. He was waving his cane in the air.
Mr. Green, take your seat. Take your seat, sir.
And after multiple warnings from the speaker to be quiet, to respect the quorum, he just refused to sit down. He continued yelling.
Remove this gentleman from the chamber.
And he was escorted out. Trump seemed to almost be energized by the Democratic opposition, and he goaded Democrats throughout the night.
For just this one night, why not join us in celebrating so many incredible wins for America?
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Chapter 3: What themes did Trump emphasize in his speech?
When he got to the substance of the speech, it was really similar to what we've heard him talk about thematically for really the last nine years. He focused on illegal immigration and his efforts to crack down on the border. He leaned into cultural issues like transgender issues and talked about law and order. The other thing that Trump really sort of called out in the speech was Doge.
Perhaps you've heard of it.
Perhaps.
And Elon Musk, who stood and received applause. Thank you, Elon.
Chapter 4: Why does Trump praise Elon Musk in his address?
You're working very hard.
Trump spent a lot of time reciting different line items that they claim they have stopped and payments in the budget that he says are fraudulent and praised Elon Musk's work.
Every single day we will stand up and we will fight, fight, fight for the country our citizens believe in and for the country our people deserve.
The impression you got from watching the speech was this is a president who, despite everything so far, all of the protests, the stock market reaction to what he's doing with tariffs, the outrage from Democrats, this is a president who is not taking any steps backwards. He is barreling forward with his agenda.
Chapter 5: Is Trump's agenda showing signs of retreat?
He's doing it unapologetically, and he shows no sign so far of retreating from any of these very aggressive moves that he's taken.
So I promise to be a lot shorter than what you just watched. After President Trump spoke, Democratic Senator Alyssa Slotkin of Michigan delivered the traditional rebuttal speech from the opposing party. She tried to make her case to both Democrats and Republicans. We need a more efficient government. You want to cut waste? I'll help you do it.
But change doesn't need to be chaotic or make us less safe. Slotkin specifically narrowed in on economics, arguing that the president's agenda will make life more expensive for Americans, affecting everything from grocery prices to retirement benefits. She said, quote, he's going to make you pay in every part of your life.
Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers got a warning from the party's leadership about how to handle growing pushback to Trump's policies. The chairman of the House Republicans' campaign arm told them to stop having in-person town halls.
The directive came after Republicans' meetings with their constituents across the country have turned into shouting matches, with attendees confronting representatives about government spending cuts and mass firings. The chairman said Democratic activists have been taking over the town halls and encouraged Republicans to hold online events instead.
Here are two other quick updates on the Trump administration.
So I think he's going to work something out with them. It's not going to be a pause, none of that pause stuff. But I think he's going to figure out, you do more and I'll meet you in the middle some way.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested that the U.S. could soon reach some kind of agreement with Canada and Mexico over Trump's drastic new tariffs. The 25 percent surcharges went into effect yesterday. The stock market plunged in response.
Lutnick said on Fox Business that he'd been speaking with representatives from Canada and Mexico and that there could be an announcement as soon as today. But he didn't say what concessions, if any, the countries would have to make to get the tariffs rolled back. and at the Department of Education.
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