Steve Scalise is the head of the House of Representatives and will be running for the position of Speaker: Podcast 5 Important Moments

In today's episode of the podcast "5 Things": House Majority Leader Steve Scalise will run for Speaker after Representative Kevin McCarthy's removal. USA TODAY's Chief Washington Correspondent Susan Page discusses what might happen in the last 100 days before the Iowa caucuses. Another 125,000 student loan borrowers will receive $9 billion in debt relief. USA TODAY's reporter on Congress, campaign issues, and democracy, Rachel Looker, explains why there is a shortage of school psychologists. The U.S. women's gymnastics team has won its seventh consecutive world championship. Podcasts: crime stories, in-depth interviews, and other USA TODAY podcasts are here. Click the play button on the player above to listen to the podcast and follow along with the transcript below. This transcript was automatically generated and then edited for clarity in its current form. There may be some discrepancies between the audio and the text.

Steve Scalise announced his intention to run for the position of Speaker of the House following the removal of Kevin McCarthy.

Steve Scalise, a Republican from Louisiana and one of the candidates for the position of Speaker of the House, announced his intention to enter the race after Kevin McCarthy was ousted. This was expected, given his position as the second-ranking Republican in the House. Scalise stated that now is not the time to slow down and that the party must heal the wounds after the division that led to McCarthy's removal last week. Scalise, along with other candidates for the speakership, including House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, met with a delegation of Texas Republican House members for lunch yesterday. Scalise made an official statement after the event. The speaker elections are expected to take place next week.

The last 100 days before the caucuses in Iowa

Saturday marks 100 days until the Iowa caucuses. So far, everything points to the 2024 presidential election being a repeat showdown between Biden and Trump. However, as USA TODAY's chief Washington correspondent Susan Page told me, a lot can change between now and then. Susan, thank you for joining "5 Things."

In your article, you described a number of events that could change the political landscape ahead of the elections. Susan, let's start with the trial. It's no secret that former President Donald Trump is facing a number of legal issues. What can we expect for him in the coming months?

Well, last week we saw him attending some hearings in a New York court regarding a civil case about real estate fraud. And we have another trial, a criminal case, that will start at the end of this month in Georgia, involving charges against two of his accomplices for attempting to overturn the 2020 election. Court proceedings are a bit like newspapers, as you can't always predict what will happen or be included the next day. There may be testimonies or evidence presented that undermine the narrative Trump has built for his supporters, that he is a victim of political revenge. This is certainly something to keep an eye on.

Meanwhile, the Republicans have started an investigation into the impeachment of President Joe Biden. Susan, how might this develop in the coming months, especially considering the legal issues surrounding his son Hunter Biden?

The impeachment hearings got off to a rocky start when two witnesses from the Republican Party stated that there was insufficient evidence to bring impeachment charges.

The impact of the abortion issue on the election campaign in Iowa

Abortion is certainly at the center of American politics right now. How might this affect the election campaign in Iowa?

Yes, there are 100 days left until the caucuses in Iowa, and Iowa is a state where evangelical Christians are a powerful political force. The issue of abortion has been significant in Iowa for decades. Recently, Donald Trump expressed his position, which is not the most hardline on abortion. He stated that he is willing to negotiate with supporters of abortion access to reach a compromise that would satisfy both sides. He also mentioned that it was a terrible mistake for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to sign a ban on abortions at six weeks. This is not what anti-abortion activists wanted to hear. Let's see how this will politically affect Trump.

The age and health of candidates influence the election campaign.

Susan, these candidates are already quite old. How might their age and health play a role?

Yes, the oldest candidates. Biden is 80 years old, Trump is 77. We saw in June when President Biden slipped on a sandbag on the stage of the U.S. Air Force Academy. He fell but got up immediately. But we've seen that video over and over again. And it confirms concerns about Biden's age, which is why the White House is very worried about avoiding a repeat of that fall. Considering the age and health of these two men, I think their health status may draw the attention of voters.

And we know that Trump remains the leading candidate for the Republican Party nomination, but how might the Republican Party narrow or expand in the coming months?

One of two things will happen. Some candidates may drop out of the race if they can't raise money or don't make it to the third debate in Miami in November. That's something to keep an eye on, but it's also possible that the field could expand. Some Republican donors are encouraging Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin to consider entering the presidential race as a viable alternative to Donald Trump, which Ron DeSantis seems to have lost. So we'll see if the field gets smaller or maybe a bit larger.

Alright. Susan Page, as always, has a wonderful understanding. We'll start counting the days. Thank you very much.

Thank you.