RFK and Gabbard are in, Lingering Constitutional Questions, the History of the Lottery, and 'SNL 50'

Good morning. It’s Friday, February 14.

Today, we’re covering the latest Trump cabinet confirmations, what happens if he defies court rulings, the Kennedy Center fallout, the U.S. housing market outlook, Trump’s Gaza plan, and how the scratch-off lottery ticket changed America.

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Rashad Drakeford

Co-Founder & Publisher, Good Diet

RFK and Tulsi Gabbard Confirmed

The Senate has confirmed RFK Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services and Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence, two of Trump’s most eyebrow-raising cabinet choices. RFK Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist, now oversees federal health policy, while Gabbard, whose foreign policy views have often aligned with right-wing populism, is now leading the nation’s intelligence agencies. These confirmations mark a major shift in how the government handles public health, national security, and executive power, solidifying Trump’s push to install allies who reject traditional expertise.

• RFK Jr. Running Health Policy is a Risky Move: RFK Jr. has a long history of pushing vaccine misinformation, and now he’s in charge of the CDC, FDA, and federal health strategy. With ongoing public health threats like COVID variants and bird flu, his leadership could mean rollbacks on vaccine policies and a shift away from science-backed health initiatives.

• Gabbard is Taking Over U.S. Intelligence Operations: Now overseeing the CIA, NSA, and FBI, Gabbard has frequently criticized U.S. foreign policy, opposed aid to Ukraine, and defended authoritarian leaders. Her leadership aligns with Trump’s broader goal of remaking intelligence agencies in a way that prioritizes his political agenda over bipartisan national security strategy.

• Trump’s Government is Looking More Like a Loyalist Club: These picks are part of a larger effort to replace experts with Trump-friendly figures who challenge traditional government institutions. From Musk’s growing power over federal agencies to RFK Jr. and Gabbard’s appointments, Trump is reshaping key parts of government to reflect his ideology rather than long-standing policy norms.

• What This Means Moving Forward: Expect big shifts in health policy, intelligence strategy, and executive power dynamics, with fewer checks and balances from career officials. The real test will come when these agencies face their first major crises—whether it’s a public health emergency or a foreign threat—and we see just how much damage inexperience and ideology can do.

What Happens If Trump Defies Court Orders?

Trump and his administration are signaling that they may ignore court rulings that don’t align with their agenda, setting up a dangerous battle between the executive branch and the judiciary. Senator J.D. Vance has openly floated the idea that Trump should simply refuse to comply with court decisions he disagrees with, a stance that shatters long-standing legal norms. If this happens, we’re looking at a full-blown constitutional crisis, where the legal system is tested in ways we haven’t seen before. This isn’t just about Trump—it’s about whether the rule of law still holds in America, or if raw political power takes its place.

• Trump Allies Are Pushing an Alarming Strategy: J.D. Vance and other Trump loyalists are suggesting that if courts rule against Trump’s policies, he should just ignore the decisions and move forward anyway. This kind of thinking undermines the very foundation of checks and balances, turning the courts into a suggestion box rather than an actual branch of government.

• What Happens if Trump Defies the Courts?: Normally, court rulings are enforced by executive agencies, but if the executive branch refuses to comply, the system starts to break down. Congress could try to intervene, but with Trump’s grip on the GOP, it’s unclear if they’d have the will to hold him accountable, potentially leaving enforcement up to state officials or mass public pressure.

• This Has Never Happened at This Scale: Presidents have disagreed with court rulings before, but flat-out ignoring them is a whole different level. If Trump does this and gets away with it, it sets a precedent where future presidents—regardless of party—can do the same, gutting the power of the judicial branch.

• The Future of the Rule of Law is at Stake: If Trump moves forward with this strategy, the courts’ ability to check executive power could be permanently weakened. This moment will test whether America’s legal system can hold the line, or if we’re witnessing a shift toward unchecked presidential power that will outlast Trump himself.

Trump’s Kennedy Center Takeover

The Kennedy Center, long seen as a cornerstone of American arts and culture, is now at the center of political controversy after Trump took over as chairman and quickly fired its president, Deborah Rutter. In response, high-profile figures have resigned and major events have been canceled. Trump’s influence on the center raises concerns about the future of artistic freedom, diversity in programming, and the broader politicization of cultural institutions. With artists and audiences pushing back, the Kennedy Center faces an uncertain future under its new leadership.

• Trump Reshapes the Kennedy Center’s Leadership: Shortly after being appointed chairman, Trump led the board in firing longtime president Deborah Rutter and replacing her with Richard Grenell, a loyalist with no background in the arts. The move signals a shift toward a more politically-driven agenda, rather than one focused purely on artistic excellence.

• Major Resignations Shake the Institution: Shonda Rhimes, Ben Folds, and Renée Fleming all stepped down from their Kennedy Center roles, saying they could no longer support an institution being reshaped by Trump’s influence. Their departures highlight growing fears that the center’s commitment to artistic diversity and free expression is at risk.

• Issa Rae and Other Artists Are Walking Away: Issa Rae canceled her sold-out Kennedy Center event, calling the takeover "an infringement on the values that make the arts powerful." Other artists and organizations are now rethinking their partnerships with the center, raising concerns about financial fallout and public perception.

• The Future of the Kennedy Center is Uncertain: Trump has criticized past performances as "too woke" and signaled a desire to push the institution in a more conservative direction. With artists, donors, and audiences watching closely, the Kennedy Center could either become a battleground for political culture wars or see a decline in its national influence.

TikTok is Back in App Stores, But the Fight is Far From Over

After nearly a month offline, TikTok is once again available on Apple and Google’s app stores, but its long-term future in the U.S. remains uncertain. The app was pulled after a national security law required its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest its U.S. operations or face an effective ban. While the Supreme Court upheld the law, Trump temporarily delayed enforcement, giving TikTok a new deadline of April 5. Now, with over 170 million U.S. users caught in the middle, the battle over free speech, data privacy, and government control of tech is far from over.

• Why Was TikTok Removed? On January 19, TikTok was forced to halt operations in the U.S. after the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act took effect. The law required ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations or risk getting banned, citing concerns over data collection and national security risks tied to China.

• How Did TikTok Get Back Online? Trump delayed enforcement of the ban by 75 days, pushing the deadline to April 5 and giving ByteDance more time to negotiate a deal. He has also floated the idea of the U.S. taking a 50% ownership stake in a joint venture to “save TikTok”, though how that would work remains unclear.

• TikTok’s Legal Battle is Far From Over: The Supreme Court sided with the Biden administration in January, ruling that Congress had a right to force divestiture due to national security concerns. However, TikTok argues that the law violates the First Amendment rights of its U.S. users, setting up a major legal battle that could drag on for months.

• Despite the Ban, TikTok Never Really Left: Even after being removed from app stores, TikTok still retained about 90% of its U.S. traffic, proving just how deeply embedded it is in American digital culture. But if no resolution is reached by April 5, TikTok could face another shutdown—this time, with no quick fix.

SNL 50: A Star-Studded Celebration

Fifty years after Saturday Night Live first hit the airwaves, NBC is pulling out all the stops for a massive anniversary special celebrating the show’s legacy. The event will feature a reunion of legendary cast members, surprise celebrity appearances, and even a live concert paying tribute to the show’s impact on music. From its early days revolutionizing late-night TV to its role in shaping political satire and launching comedy icons, SNL’s influence on pop culture is undeniable. Whether you grew up on Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, or Kate McKinnon, this special is a nostalgic look at one of TV’s most enduring institutions.

• A Who’s Who of Comedy Royalty: The 50th anniversary special will bring back some of the biggest names in SNL history, including Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, and Tina Fey, alongside legendary alum like Eddie Murphy and Adam Sandler. Expect surprise appearances from A-list comedians and former hosts who helped shape the show’s legacy.

• More Than Just Sketches—There’s a Concert Too: For the first time ever, SNL’s impact on music will get a full tribute with a live concert event. Over the years, the show has helped launch careers for artists from Nirvana to Kendrick Lamar, and this anniversary special will highlight how SNL has been just as influential in music as it has been in comedy.

• A Look Back at the Show’s Legacy: From political satire to viral characters, SNL has consistently reflected and shaped American culture for five decades. The special will include clips from iconic sketches, behind-the-scenes stories, and tributes to past cast members who helped define the show.

• Can SNL Stay Relevant for Another 50 Years? While SNL is still a cultural force, it’s had its ups and downs with shifting audiences and the rise of digital comedy. This celebration isn’t just about looking back—it’s also a moment for the show to prove it can still be the go-to stage for the next generation of comedians and cultural commentary.

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart: Agreeing & Disagreeing with Jen Psaki (Listen)

“As Democrats grapple with defining their principles and message, we're joined by Jen Psaki, host of MSNBC's "Inside with Jen Psaki" and "The Blueprint with Jen Psaki" podcast. Also drawing on her political experience, including as White House Press Secretary under Biden, we discuss who is (or isn't) shaping Democratic policy, how media can better cut through noise to inform the public, and the core values that should guide the party’s future.”

The Vergecast: What $200 of ChatGPT is Really Worth (Listen)

“AI and politics, politics and AI. That's the story of 2025. On this episode, The Verge's Kylie Robison joins the show to talk about ChatGPT's big new features, Operator and deep research, both of which promise to make the chatbot more useful and more autonomous. To access either one costs $200 a month — is it worth it? After that, The Verge's Liz Lopatto catches us up on the latest from Elon Musk and Doge, including why Musk is doing this thing, this way. Liz also makes the case that this isn't going to slow down anytime soon.”

Bloomberg Businessweek: Housing Outlook, AI in Financial Fraud, and Combatting the Anti-DEI Movement (Listen)

“Zillow CEO Jeremy Wacksman joins to discuss company earnings and US housing outlook. Tim Sullivan, CEO of New Jersey Economic Development, breaks down the impact of NYC's congestion pricing plan on New Jersey commuters. FICO Chief Analytics Officer Scott Zoldi talks about using AI to detect, mitigate, and prevent financial fraud. Aurora James, Founder of the 15 Percent Pledge, discusses efforts to combat the current anti-DEI movement. And we Drive to the Close with Leo Kelly, CEO at Verdence Capital Advisors.”

Pod Save The World: Trump’s Insane Plan To “Own” Gaza (Listen)

“Tommy and Ben discuss how Trump’s insane plan to ethnically cleanse and “own” the Gaza strip is destabilizing governments in Egypt and Jordan, and why Trump keeps undermining the Gaza ceasefire deal he helped broker. They also discuss new whistleblower allegations about Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, how the Department of Justice is making it harder to combat foreign election interference and corruption, JD Vance’s speech scolding Europe for AI safety regulations, Trump’s Executive Order cutting off aid to South Africa, the dynastic political battle in the Philippines, and the discovery of new JFK assassination documents. Then, Tommy speaks to Congresswoman Sara Jacobs about the damage from cuts to USAID and what levers Democrats can pull to stop Trump from gutting agencies.”

Planet Money: How the Scratch Off Lottery Changed America (Listen)

“Americans spend more on scratch lottery tickets per year than on pizza. More than all Coca-Cola products. Yet the scratch ticket as a consumer item has only existed for fifty years. Not so long ago, the idea of an instant lottery, of gambling with a little sheet of paper, was strange. Scary, even. So, how did scratch lotteries go from an idea that states wanted nothing to do with, to a commonplace item? It started in a small, super-liberal, once-puritanical state: Massachusetts. Adults there now spend – on average – $1,037 every year on lottery tickets – mostly scratch tickets. On today's episode, a collaboration with GBH's podcast Scratch & Win, we hear the story of... the scratch-off lottery ticket!”