DOGE: What Can Be Done?
Audio Recording by George Hahn
I’ve struggled my entire career to discern the difference between being right and being effective. A recent poll shows many moderates favor effective (move fast, break things) over right (checks and balances). Autocracies are seductive — in the short-term, they seem effective. A third of Americans, on both sides of the political spectrum, favor an autocrat as long as he (let’s be honest, it’s always a he) is aligned with their views.
Many/most Americans, thus far, don’t feel life is any different under the new administration, and they like the idea of taking swift action against problems they believe have spiraled out of control: border crossings, government largesse, woke ideology. The blitzkrieg of threatening to invade allies, renaming bodies of water, and surrendering to Putin has left many Americans, especially Democrats, flat-footed, waiting for the outrage. If you believe that democracy should not surrender — as Trump is urging Ukraine to do — then the seminal question is … what to do? Honest answer? I don’t know. However, I do have some ideas.
Master of Coin
Nobody had Elon Musk as Master of Coin on their 2024 election bingo card. Seizing the levers of the federal payments system was strategic and elegant, as it gave the White House a single point of control, with influence over government priorities and policies via control of money flows. I do something similar when my sons are misbehaving. Rather than attempting to parent (hard) I just remotely shut off their phones’ internet access. Department of Dad Energy (DODE).
With this seizure of power, and money is power, Musk can reward friends, punish enemies, impose his political will, and effectively “delete” government agencies and departments by shutting off funding without worrying about pesky constitutional oversight. This is techno-authoritarianism: Musk’s dominion encompasses the public and private sectors, physical and digital realms, and even space.
In a 2007 essay, Musk ally and DOGE co-architect Peter Thiel argued for a new Alexander the Great, i.e., a king or dictator, to “cut the Gordian knot of our age.” The chief obstacle, according to Thiel: America’s constitutional machinery. “By setting ambition against ambition with an elaborate system of checks and balances, it prevents any single ambitious person from reconstructing the old Republic,” Thiel wrote. My Pivot co-host Kara Swisher described this mentality as, “Let’s wipe the slate clean, then we’ll build the civilization we want.” The problem: A plurality of American citizens did not vote for this vision, much less these individuals.
Musk Over MAGA
Trump won. In our system, the ideas he campaigned on can now become policy, assuming he has the votes in Congress. Musk is the most powerful vice president in history, and he wasn’t even elected. See: The Time cover of Musk behind the Resolute desk, followed by that surreal Oval Office press conference where Trump played the role of geriatric bystander to Musk’s policy blitzkrieg. I believe when their giddiness re owning the libtards subsides, Republicans in Congress will realize they have created a monster they can no longer control. Musk’s digital coup subjugates the right as much as the left; his attempt to hijack the government also hijacks the MAGA agenda.
BTW, at some point Americans will realize the conservative/progressive battle is a misdirect. The real fulcrum, where the battle is being waged, is up/down — rich vs. not-rich. The wealthy and corporations, whom Trump and Musk listen to, will put up (largely) symbolic resistance to an emerging autocracy. They aren’t going to suffer, as the world now offers civil rights for sale: The 1% can move anywhere, buy influence, and ensure everybody in their circle has access to mifepristone. The “savings” from DOGE are, again, a misdirect from an enormous tax increase on today’s youth via the deficits we’ll register if Trump’s tax cuts go through.
Their Secret: An Obsession With Wealth
I know a lot of very wealthy tech executives and financiers. The key to their wealth? Yes, much of it is luck — not their fault. And much of it is talent. However, the real secret sauce is a focus. The acquisition of wealth is an obsession for the (wait for it) wealthy. Pro tip: Anybody speaking at a university who claims they “never thought much about money” is obsessed with it. The right’s defense of Musk, that DOGE is some patriotic gesture, is laughable. His focus, and his only focus, is becoming a trillionaire. His “volunteerism” is an attempt to clear the obstacles between him and greater wealth, specifically regulators and fair play. Musk cultists often offer the same “aw shucks, he can’t help himself … he’s so authentic” rap when he says/tweets weird, reckless, and just-plain-stupid things. However, his ID is always in check when it comes to saying anything about China — where officials likely feel they have leverage over Musk. So measured, so thoughtful, so disciplined. So …. obsessed with money. He recognizes he doesn’t enjoy the umbrella protection of the First Amendment in China, and accusing a member of the CCP of being a sex criminal (his go-to) would likely result in swift economic retribution. He may or may not suffer from Asperger’s, but he definitely suffers from being an asshole. And BTW, for those of you/bots waiting to fill the comments section with cries of TDS or an obsession w/Musk, you’re wrong. I have been clinically diagnosed with DAS (Democracy Addiction Syndrome). And, bitches, after four weeks of this nonsense/incompetence/surrender, my affliction is spreading.
Adult in the Cabinet: Credit Markets
If it’s possible to hold our government hostage by capturing the federal payments system, then we need to work upstream of Musk’s chokepoint. Already, the Treasury Department has exhausted roughly 60% of the extraordinary measures at its disposal to delay a default on our bonds. The rates on the 10-year Treasury bill, however, indicate that Congress will raise the debt ceiling, as both parties have done 78 times since 1960. But what if Democrats refuse?
A dozen GOP senators and 49 House Republicans — more than 20% of each conference — have never previously voted to raise the debt ceiling. Democrats have a strong hand here. If they credibly threaten default, rates on the 10-year T-bill will increase and equities will likely suffer. This will be painful, but the pain will primarily fall on the 1% and corporations, i.e., those who own 90% of assets and have influence over Trump. In effect, the markets could do what Congress won’t — rein in Trump, kick Musk to the curb, and demand the U.S. remain a nation of laws.
Upstream
In March the government will run out of money, unless Congress acts. If the government shuts down, roughly 3 million federal workers will stop receiving paychecks. Stiffing the military, air traffic controllers, and people who keep our food and water safe is stupid — it hurts them and us. At the moment, however, a sleep-deprived alleged ketamine abuser who makes Nazi salutes is cutting off funding for programs he dislikes and promising “buyouts” to federal workers with money that isn’t there. Hakeem Jeffries is correct when he says there’s little Democrats can do legislatively to stop President Musk. But Democrats shouldn’t do anything legislatively to enable him, either. Here again, Democrats have a decent hand to extract concessions, as a shutdown is upstream of Musk’s power.
Tesla Model SS
Musk’s wealth is the source of his power and his main point of vulnerability. One-third of his wealth is tied up in Tesla stock, which briefly rose after the election as the market priced in kleptocracy but has plunged 30% since December. I sold my Tesla a few years ago; I’m not down with accusing innocents of sex crimes (note: Musk won his defamation case, but there is no dispute over what he said) and making Nazi salutes. (Call me a reactionary.) Protests at Tesla locations across the U.S. indicate that others feel similarly. Tesla’s brand value dropped 26% YoY, due primarily to Musk entering the political arena. His behavior in Europe, where he endorsed Germany’s far-right neo-Nazi party, stoked a race riot in the UK, and stands accused of manipulating algorithms on X to influence public discourse in France, has hurt Tesla sales. In China, Tesla’s second-largest market, sales are down 11% YoY, while last month BYD sold 4x the number of EVs Tesla did. Musk’s politics are bad for America. We need to make them bad for his business.
Shoot for the Stars
Musk once tweeted, “Between Tesla, Starlink and Twitter, I may have more real-time global economic data in one head than anyone ever.” Q: Is it in America’s best interest for one man to have the combined power of Henry Ford, NASA, and William Randolph Hearst? Starlink is a great product, but the growing leverage it gives Musk over global communications is alarming.
His Orbit
Already, Musk controls half the satellites in orbit. He plans to launch up to 58,000 more in the next five years and proposes to eventually increase that number to 500,000. In politics, the pendulum always swings back. Democrats should be clear that when they retake Congress, they will assess Musk’s dominance in satellites and instruct regulators to act in the interest of national security. (Note: This is also good politics, as Musk’s popularity is dropping, even among Republicans.) Think of it as threatening to invade Greenland, if Greenland was space. In the meantime, Senate Democrats can block government contracts Musk companies rely on by filibustering funding legislation, as Republicans do not have a filibuster-proof majority.
Grow a Pair
When I interviewed historian Niall Ferguson on my podcast, he said British politics is a “game of cricket between people who went to Oxford,” whereas American politics is a “blood sport.” I’d argue Niall misses some nuance. Recently, Democratic politics have felt like a stern game of bridge at the rest home. For MAGA, the coarseness of our discourse is a feature, not a bug. Musk and Trump understand this. They spew violent rhetoric and leverage political violence like January 6, because fear is a useful tool for keeping followers and opponents in line. Yesterday, a DOJ official began falsely accusing people of “threats” to Musk and his team and sending letters to officials to “clarify” their comments (i.e., intimidate them). Yeah, free speech, unless it’s our guys. This is an attempt to cast a chill on opposing speech in what can be described as the fascist hymn.
(Speaking of fascist hymns, The WSJ reported on Feb. 19 that Linda Yaccarino is now a brick in the fascist wall, threatening to leverage her dear leader’s influence to block the IPG/Omnicom merger if they do not advertise on her platform.)
Despite credible threats, Trump has removed security details protecting his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, General Mark Milley, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, to name a few. In response, Democrats marched to a Federal building and did their best impression of a seniors facility when Jell-O night’s been canceled. Democrats should make clear that, when they return to power, Trump and anyone else engaging in the digital coup will also lose their security detail. It’s about incentives. We need to move beyond the strongly worded letter.
Let Them
What I’ve outlined above is slow and incomplete, compared to the speed and destructive force of a 19-year-old computer engineer high on Mountain Dew. My concern is for America, but I’ll be fine. The people who will pay a far greater price are Trump voters, who believe this fight is for them. It’s not, it’s against them — red states receive more federal funding than they pay in taxes.
We Won … Right? Maybe Not
Republican leaders, who are under the delusion they control the power of the purse, and won, are instead quietly expressing concerns over what DOGE cuts mean for their constituents. Dismantling USAID hurts Kansans who sell their crops to a government program that fights hunger abroad. NIH cuts threaten jobs in Alabama, Florida, Nebraska, and other red states. One of Louisiana’s Republican senators believes plans to gut the FBI will hurt his state. Cuts to the VA fall on a key Trump constituency, as veterans skew Republican by 2 to 1. Delete the Department of Education? Trump carried four of the top five states that receive Title I funding for low-income students: Louisiana, Mississippi, Arizona, and Alabama.
Drizz
Amid a chaotic transition, the White House mistakenly elevated the wrong person to acting FBI director. In any other administration, this kind of fuckup would’ve been endless fodder for comedians and congressional investigations. In this administration, it barely gets a footnote. Brian Driscoll, aka Drizz, will likely be fired soon, but the G-man’s response to an attack on his colleagues and the rule of law is a lesson in leadership and masculinity: defaulting to protection. By refusing to comply with an unlawful order to name the 6,000-plus FBI agents who worked on January 6 cases, Drizz may have only delayed the inevitable.
But he succeeded in sounding the alarm and stiffening the resolve of his peers. The lesson? Submitting to a (second) insurrection without a fight will only make the insurrectionist bolder, but fighting, even if we lose, weakens him, as it inspires others to do the same. Think about this: A man who makes Nazi gestures owns the majority of satellites and space-launch capacity and has usurped the power of the purse and Congress. The same man is openly threatening other companies with government retribution if they don’t spend money on his companies. Democrats and Republicans: This isn’t a time to come together, but to the rescue.
Life is so rich,
P.S. Go beyond using AI to gut-check your work, and use it as a decision-making partner. Join AI as Advanced Thought Partner with Greg Shove for free on March 6.
I’m concerned about MuskDump access to citizen data, particularly since he owns X. What is stopping him from using a bot to collect our meta data worth millions of dollars?
It’s insane how unpopular this take is, but the majority of democrats are falling on the sword over it.
Simple math: overspending, over reach, government never shrinks – only bloats. Now for the first time in ages they’re being held accountable. Waste is being found around every corner and Democrats “this very very bad”.
Do you not realize what’s going on?
Anyone who is against the DOGE audits is your enemy.
Trillions of dollars have been ***STOLEN*** from the American taxpayer.
Anyone who is trying to run defense for these thieves is an enemy of the American taxpayer.
The Democrats have become the party of thieves, pro-war (Look how pissed Galloway is that Trump is going to end the war in Ukraine) Big Pharma, forced vaxxs, child sexual mutilation,ect, ect and then they get on TV and cosplay as some virtuous champion of the working class.
These people are all frauds.
Point your finger at them and laugh at them.
Trumps policies and actions will weaken the U.S. Thats good for the world…. MWGA
I am commenting this morning because I heard your honest ,blunt, heartfelt request for Republicans and Democrats to step up and Rescue America….and that is exactly what needs to be done. Moral Compass first, then get on with directions. Thank you ❤️🇨🇦
I heard you speak on Anderson360 tonight. I thank you for being blunt, honest and on the mark! I am a UHC employee whose job is threatened. I am a few years out from Medicare and SSI. If I lose my job I lose my retirement. Those few years make a big difference in SSI. COBRA will not get me to Medicare. I will lose at least $20,000 from my savings to pay for COBRA. I am going to risk getting fired over taking the buyout. The $10,000 I might get would pay for some of the COBRA but not worth it. Amazing my retirement has come down to this. What was supposed to be celebration is now terror. My new plan is to let myself go. If I get anything life threatening I am not going to bother continuing. I will leave what I have left to my niece and nephews. My husband died 10 years ago. We didn’t have children, thank God. My siblings are at the end of their lives. No sense in me hanging around. So much work for nothing. Thank you for listening.
Scott, ever thought about running for president? This country needs you.
I’ve run into a bad streak. I’m not sure if the unethical hypnotherapist who won’t leave my brain has anything to do with it, but it resembles some bad times that the hypnotherapist has been proud of letting me know it was behind.
I’m hoping that people will stop doing things to me for the hypnotherapist, and that they can stop the hypnotherapist instead.
It entered my head without my knowledge or consent, in clear violation of its ethics.
Most of the cases involving hypnotherapists brought up on ethics charges involve women being raped or groped or something like that, but I would guess that if people help the hypnotherapist rather than its victim and there’s no formal procedure for stopping unethical hypnotherapists, there must be a lot of these cases.
If you’re in hypnotherapy or thinking about it, get way from that hypnotherapist while you still can.
If you’re anywhere near a hypnotherapist in your life, get away from them socially or in any other way, too. Remember, I never knowingly met a hypnotherapist.
You’re better off avoiding hypnotherapists, but I will admit I’m hoping my request might also encourage the violator hypnotherapist to vacate my head. If its colleagues fear the loss of business, it might finally be compliant with its own ethics code.
I’m really not sure why the people who help the hypnotherapist hurt me would trust any hypnotherapist or mental health professional after that, but I hope they will show signs of understanding that the hypnotherapist asked them to hurt and isolate me, and that makes it a danger, not just to me.
I did suggest that not trash-talking at anyone who isn’t just like you might have been a good strategy for Democrats, both in government and everyday life. If anyone in the left can try it, it still might work.
Some people would rather see America fail than Trump succeed.
It’s a really odd position to take.
And it’s an even worse brand to sell in 2025….at least to those of us that are not suicidal or don’t have mental illness.
But the people that would rather see the world burn than Trump win are committed to their programming and there is absolutely nothing any of us can say here that will ever change their minds on this.
Got a Tmobile ad in this segment. Who just did that massive deal with Starlink and even made a Super Bowl ad about it.
While there may be some adjustments in various markets (such as the reference to corn sales) the free enterprise system along with common sense and intelligence of farmers and other business owners will adjust accordingly.
Your repeated mention of the Naxi salute demonstrates a shocking ignorance of the gesture made by Musk. It was in no way a Nazi salute. Anyone can see the differences simply by taking a picture of Hitler and placing it next to Musk making his gesture. Note that Musk has his arm to the side in a somewhat relaxed position- while Hitler holds his arm to the front and very rigid.
Your referring to this “salute” tells me and others that you surely have a deep seated misguided hatred of anything Trump – which then leads to your perception of what is going on.
White People are so powerful that all we have to do is raise our arm at a certain angle and it will send shockwaves across the planet with hysterical, fear-based, fools still obsessing about it weeks later.
90% of these comments here are so fucking stupid. Social Media will create total anarchy and and a loss of the world everything as we’ve known it. All because of mostly male dipshits that want to break everything we have ever known. Break every system just for the fun of it. Well fuckheads, we won’t be able to rebuild it. And if you think this March will be fun, wait until you lose every fucking thing you own, including your homes, security, cars and your women and children. It’ll be dog eat dog in the streets. Have fucking fun you idiots that think you’re so fake smart and smug writing on social media, calling for trumps shit to go forward as a cleaning.
I really wish you f-ing idiots would stop with the “democracy” bull$4!7
seriously. You just can’t be this stupid.
Article IV, Section 4:
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
I continue to be confused why liberals like yourself are opposed to cleaning out government waste? Why not jump on the that bandwagon while demanding accountability?
It’s insane how unpopular this take is, but the majority of democrats are falling on the sword over it.
Simple math: overspending, over reach, government never shrinks – only bloats. Now for the first time in ages they’re being held accountable. Waste is being found around every corner and Democrats “this very very bad”.
FOR YOU CHILDREN, DON’T PAY FEDERAL TAXES APRIL 15
The things musk is doing only makes sense if he believes that he will not be out of power again.
Trump said, “PAYING TAXES IS FOR SUCKERS AND LOSERS. FOR YOUR KIDS AND GRAND KIDS, DON’T PAY FEDERAL TAXES UNTIL THOSE WHO ARE RAPING AMERICA AND OUR DEMOCRACY ARE SILENCED. STARVE THE BEAST AND HIS CRIMINAL CABAL. IF YOU PAY, YOU ARE NOTHING BUT AN ENABLER AND A PART OF THE PROBLEM, NOT ITS SOLUTION
I will try that again. You got your “” backwards.
I guess greater than and less than symbols won’t come through your matrix.
I think you got your backwards. Otherwise, I think you underestimate. Orwell was an optimist. But we are in a fiscal death spiral or our own making and need to get out of that somehow.
Great line: “I have been clinically diagnosed with DAS (Democracy Addiction Syndrome). And, bitches, after four weeks of this
nonsense/incompetence/surrender, my affliction is spreading.”
Glad to hear others feels the same.
Encouraging action fueled by gaudia civis: a noun encouraging action one feels after service ….. referenced from The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows …. We are looking for our cabinet of wisdom and guidance …. You are helping lead the way … thank you as I slip and fall – loose hope and then listen and learn in these unbelievable circumstances….jeezzzz… Hope is a thing with feathers …. Onward and upwards !?!?!
Scott,
Like many others here I find a lot of your analysis/ commentary very useful.
However, the “no mercy, no malice” moniker probably needs updating. If you bear no malice towards Trump and Musk, I must be missing something.
Imagine if you will a bureaucracy so corrupt it try’s to convince citizens that accountability is illegal.
Do you honestly believe that President Donald Trump is accountable to anybody?
Imagine if you will a bureaucracy so corrupt it try’s to convince citizens that accountability is illegal.
Galloway’s critiques, whether about Musk, Big Tech, or government influence, seem to align more with his political preferences than with any consistent principle. When Democrats were benefiting from Big Tech’s power, he wasn’t nearly as vocal about censorship or government overreach. But now that Musk—a billionaire who doesn’t fit neatly into the left’s preferred mold—is helping a Republican administration, suddenly it’s an existential crisis.
It’s hard to take Scott’s outrage seriously when it’s so selective. If he genuinely cared about unchecked power, government collusion, or threats to democracy, he would have been just as vocal when Big Tech was working hand-in-hand with Democrats to control narratives and suppress dissent. Instead, his biggest issue seems to be that the “wrong” people now have influence.
Your comment seems to miss the point when you use the term “Power” rather than “Government”. Government relates to “By the people and for the people”. Power connotes “might is right” and in the this case the administration seems to be acting largely “for themselves” and not the people more broadly. It is worth having a historical perspective on this as well as an understanding that “America Alone” is a hollow concept given the interconnectedness of just about everything. Hurt your friends (of which there a potentially less every day with the current administration) and you are looking down the barrel of a lot of ugly stuff that will impact ordinary Americans and things like Inflation, High Interest Rates, Expensive Housing, Crap Medical Care etc., will be the least of your worries. Deeper thinking and Critical Fact Based Critical Analysis is what is required. If you get your news from Social Media and Fox you are in a “Fact Free Zone”. Do some actual broad based research!
Excellent essay/pod. Clear, factual and actionable. Thank you for taking the time and care to lay out the case against the sham of Trump/Elon/DOGE and for identifying pressure points that might allow serious people to salvage our democracy.
As most of you have, I’ve listened to countless takes on “what cld/shld Democrats do” and this is the best take I’ve heard to date. It’s thoughtful, it’s calculated and it’s doable. IMHO we need to spread this to everyone that will listen…including our elected officials. That’s my plan today.
One more note: When a democracy dies there are no fireworks, no bombs, or alert systems sounding on the TV/phone…it happens quietly. Pay attention
This gives me hope. As a Canadian, we look on to this nightmare and know we are directly affected by it. I feel for Ukrainians who have fought so hard and suddenly it appears their fate is left in the balance of two monsters. Trump has consumed the news for 8 years now. Living with a psychopath coming through your screen isn’t easy, yet I refuse to turn it off and not pay attention. Thanks for great podcasts and writing, Prof G. You and Kara have been my goto for years as a reliable source on issues. You’re really entertaining as well 🙂👍🏻
Loved this writing and decided to subscribe because of it. It is about time someone told it as it is and offered suggestions for hope. A link to this is going to my US Senators and my Representative. I hope it is read or listened to, taken to heart and your suggestions are followed.
Ok. I’m done. I always enjoyed your analysis on business and technology. That’s why I subscribed.
But in the last 12 months your TDS, EDS (Elon Derangement Syndrome) and possibly alcohol are warping your otherwise great columns.
So, I am unsubscribing.
Scott: with all sincerity: good luck in your future efforts and blessings on you and your family. I think at least your heart is in the right place.
BTW: I don’t know WTF happened to Kara Swisher (was a fan back in the day) but her toxicity is lethal. Beware.
Why do MAGAs love to proclaim “OK, now I have had enough, grumble umbrage mutter mutter get off my lawn.” It’s like going to the airport, getting on the PA and loudly shouting you’re not taking that rotten flight to Topeka. No one cares, Barb. Just leave already.
Ah, another MAGA-cultist bravely declares S/he is “unsubscribing.” Why subscribe in the first place? I just find my way to the website and click on the latest entry. I never subscribed because, 1) it’s not necessary, and 2) I don’t need my email inbox filled with Prof G-related spam/bullshit (sorry Scott). For the MAGA-cultists, I suggest you not subscribe, so you won’t have to bravely and publicly “unsubscribe” when Prof G says something that gets your panties in a wad. Google “no mercy no malice” and that will take you right where you need to go. You’re welcome.
There is a lot of energy in the system, and this leads to entropy faster. Those who believe in freedom must throw in their ink and change the color of future entropy. The ink of freedom is ideas. Let the intellectuals stand up and shout out new ideas quickly, this is a great time to do so.
The current US administration is like a nightmare. I keep thinking, this can’t really be happening!
I read that they sacked the people who keep America’s nuclear weapons safe, then realised their mistake and rehired them.
I hope none of America’s adversaries are realising that America is in a very vulnerable situation and decides to do something nasty.
Trump’s deal with Zelensky, to take Ukraine’s mineral resources, will surely have US allies around the world thinking twice about being a US ally. If I was Taiwan I would be doing a deal with China. If I was the Saudis I would be doing a deal with China and Russia. The Europeans are talking about de-risking from America. If I was the Europeans I would do a security deal with Russia and cancel NATO.
Trump’s comments about making Canada America’s 51st state are like something out of Saturday Night Live.
Can’t wait to see the year-on-year US tourism data, once we get to around to about June, because I cannot see anyone from Canada or any other western country visiting the US whilst an orangutang is running the Oval Office and a ketamine addicted Max Headroom is cutting government services he doesn’t like the sound of or understand.
Things in politics either way are never so black and white. The previous administration allowed huge illegal immigration, deliberately gave them dolls and hosted them at the cost of honest US taxpayer and squandered huge sums on woke schemes and some very crazy organizations having leftist ideologies. Power is heady and keeping a balance is as important as being honest, will Elon be able to bring about a balance in the administration, eliminate Deep state and help rebuild the governance without the woke trappings is the real challenge for Trump administration as otherwise US economy is headed for a rough weather and turbulent waters. You have painted a picture with your perspective but that too is not quite balanced.
Dear Prof. G, believe you might have been better advised to stick to innovation and business, topics at which you excel. For some time now, you have immersed yourself in politics, where your clear dislike of Trump has robbed you of objectivity and intellectual honesty. In the above post, you actually were defending USAID? really? Have you read the list of nonsensical, woke BS on which US taxpayer money was being squandered? You talked about government shutdown, which Dems were wailing in the last admininstration that Republicans might cause…..now you seem to be advocating for it. Bill Clinton fired 400K federal employees…..but that was ok because he was Team Blue, right? By the way, he also deported 12 million. When you throw away objectivity, your credibility goes with it.
A lot of inaccuracy in your post dude. Think and research first. He didn’t fire 400k federal workers or deport 12 million. Your head’s in a bubble!
I wish Musk would completely document in detail some of his alleged fraud or waste he has found. No transparency. Too much BS.
Clearly stated and right to the point.
This was a great column. I really enjoy reading your political analysis, and am glad my sister (a former NYU employee) exposed me to your writing some years ago.
The left is having a tough time. They allowed their party to fake Biden’s health until they could not. Then put up an incompetent woman, the lowest polling VP in modern history. Paired her with a clown who could not keep his lies straight. A moderate midwesterner would have easily beat Trump. But, the fossilized Democratic machine cannot do ‘think differently’. They are now the ‘conservatives’. Try that out at your next NYC party.
So, you have Trump. What to do? DON’T continue to fight DOGE. They are finding billions in questionable USAID NGOs that the public is shocked about. DON’T have that clown Schumer, with the glasses half way down his nose act as you spokesman in them media. And, no one really believes Maxine Waters of AOC anymore.
Better yet, do nothing. Incompetence lost the White House and Congress, Biden lost the party’s faith from Americans. Just give up trying to ‘get Trump, you are lousy at it. Hope Trump messes up bad enough so DNC can take Congress next year. Listen to your critics instead of calling then racist or ‘nazis’.
You know, I can’t stand Donald Trump, and yet I agree with almost everything you wrote. However, I think Trump has already screwed up, and I think the Dems will win back the House and the Senate in 2026. I think the ever-hungry, unelected, wanna be trillionaire is starting to make a LOT of people nervous. I think “Long live the king” made a lot of people nervous. Trump’s approval numbers are already falling. Give it some time. After more and more MAGA-cultists start losing their jobs, i think more and more people are going realize that voting for Donald Trump was a mistake.
Thanks for this great summary and call to action. I am guilty of doomscrolling and wallowing in despair until I read your email.
Scott, your comment on Musk “his focus, and his only focus, is becoming a trillionaire” just underlines your inability to comment on him in a balanced way.
Trump and Musk are in the positions of power they currently enjoy partly because of people like you, so have a good look in the mirror, give yourself a pat on the back and enjoy the next four years.
We found our ignoant MAGA Trumpist. A village is looking for its idiot!
So much I agree with and don’t. I didn’t vote Trump. Yet I root for DOGE.
The bottom 50% of earners in aggregate pay almost no personal federal income taxes. In other words, half the population has no incentive to reduce the waste and inefficiency that is the hallmark of big government – the largest monopoly that uses coercion to enforce its’ will. Of course the beneficiaries of reducing taxes will be the wealthy as they largely carry the weight paying the majority of the personal federal income taxes. Note: A common counterpoint is that the poor and middle class pay a large share of the consumption taxes. That’s a misleading stat as the wealthy individually spend more and therefore pay more- individually. As the wealthy are a minority, in aggregate they pay substantially less of the total of such taxes- AS THEY SHOULD.
Therefore, nothing will change the status quo- except for a radical sweep the DOGE hopes to achieve. Of course that entails throwing the good out with the bad and then rebuilding. Will it be worth it? I don’t know. For decades and decades, the status quo has only made it worse. I think the risk is worth the reward.
PS. I’m not a fan of Musk (immature, egotistical & hypocritical- e.g., “free speech” he banned me on X- I presume for complaining about $50K deposit held for ~6 yrs for a Tesla Roadster) and yet I still respect his intelligence and accomplishments. Net/ net, he probably benefits mankind and probably in a big way.
His accomplishments??? It’s the work of thousand of employees at Tesla, SpaceX, etc. with the help of billions of dollars in federal funding. Musk is an idiot!
@JM – hear, hear!
Your ad hominem invective versus Mr Musk reveals the emptiness of your argument. Most of Musk’s companies (SpaceX, Starlink, Tesla, and now GROK3) are leaders in their respective fields. Musk is the common thread for success. You are entitled to dislike the man for his public behavior and political affiliations, but calling him an idiot is just a schoolyard taunt. By any objective measure, he is a smart and successful man.
DOGE plans to cut government waste. Do you hate their plan, or just hate the men driving the plan?
Professor Scott, and then you end your jeremiad with an advertisement to drink ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol before you start drinking to lessen tomorrow’s hangover. Long live free market economies where NYU professors who complain about billionaires becoming trillionaires can add to their own balance sheet by encouraging alcohol drinkers to drink more ZBiotics so they can drink more alcohol. It’s pretty rich even for you. There’s a reason Tom Wolfe often promised to write a book, “The Human Comedy.” He never wrote it, but really didn’t have to. It’s right there for anybody who opens their eyes to their own internal tics and biases to see.
We found our ignoant MAGA Trumpist. A village is looking for its idiot!
We found our typical MAGA Trumpist. A village is looking for its idiot! Please contact them.
We found our typical Trumpist. A village is looking for its idiot! Please contact them.
The grifters are mad at those who grift better.
A good shot of reality for Democrats would have been to watch Congressional confirmation hearings. They would have seen the Democrats in Congress generally make fools of themselves. They were unprepared, and the females (or those in women’s clothing) were screaming like mad people. Looking at you from Hawaii….
Your representatives seemed inept and incompetent. The only real critical questions came from GOP Senators like Kennedy (R-LA), especially with the FBI nominee.
The Democratic are returning to their roots as angry Berkeley/UCLA/Columbia students, shouting down opposition and having emotional breakdowns in the media. That didn’t work, neither will the ‘resist’ nonsense I read here. A 12 step program is in order
A thought on how we can protest: I know this is small, but it could be interesting to—AS A CUSTOMER OF UBER AND/or LYFT, refuse to get in an Uber or Lyft that is a Tesla. Force them to specify the car and elect NOT TO BE IN A TESLA. Could this be a thing? I will try the next opportunity.
You are entitled to your method of protest.
But, it sounds i bit childish to me. What will it accomplish? Nothing.
What will it fix? Nothing
Some of you are just messing with Uber drivers, who are trying to feed themselves. Those actions CAUSE people to vote for the Trumps of our country, They are not like the prototype here – trying to ‘fight the man’ from their Venice beach house or NYC co-op. Taking it out on ‘working people’ is not a way to win in the next round of Congressional races.
Thank you Scott for your brilliant analysis. You are the voice of reason, please advise.
Imagine if your bank called you to say that they discovered fraudulent activity on your account & froze your account.
Now imagine instructing the bank to release the funds and allow the fraud to continue.
That is exactly the position the mentally ill TDS party is taking.
DOGE finds $2.7 Trillion in fraudulent US Government Medicaid and Medicare payments that have been going overseas.
A week later DOGE reveals $4.7 Trillion of Taxpayer Money went into a government black hole and is untraceable.
This is ORGANIZED CRIME
How many people had to be paid off to look the other way for these crimes to go on for decades?
I wonder how many people are still being paid off to downplay these crimes in the media.
When people have been hating on Trump 24/7 like it was their job, I have to wonder if they are getting paid or just blackmailed to do that job.
We all know that we’re going to find TDS people all over the Epstein list.
And the P Diddy List.
And all the other future lists.
What a glorious time to be alive.
Prof G for someone who lives not in the United States you seem pretty wound up. You mention that 10 year Treasury Bills might hold the government’s feet to the fire. You are aware that Treasury Bills have a maximum maturity of 12 months. I think you mean Treasury bonds. Also your MSNBC desire to paint your superior Mr. Musk as a Nazi is a puerile ad hominem. You are a sucker for Godwin’s Law which is
“As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler approaches one.” Bravo!
BS, Trumpist! Your king will be be defeated in a way or another. Can’t wait!!!
John
What is inaccurate. Does Prof G live in America? Are Treasury Bills as long as 10 years? Resorting to Nazi epithets is Godwin’s Law. Tell me I’m wrong-but where?
I used to adore this newsletter, in fact less than 12 months ago I recommended it to everyone I know. I’ve tolerated your political rants – even your endorsement of the inept Kamala Harris – but you’ve really jumped the shark this time. You’re starting to sound obsessed and unhinged. Maybe lay off the booze a bit?
Oh, poor little kid, you don’t like different opinions? I thought that you, MAGA idiots, liked free speech??? Oh, that was a lie? Why am I not surprise? Please, watch Fox News and let educated patriots (real ones) comment here.
Amy C is terminally afflicted with TDS as well.
Waah…Waah…Waah, The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. The Democrats have had their chance. Bureaucrats on both sides of the table need to get off of their asses and do something productive rather than continuing down the path of insanity that we have been on for the last 30 years. Something has got to happen and at least the CURRENT White House is moving the needle. Democrats got Trump re-elected by their insane tactics. They made their bed, now they need to deal with it.
Lol! What a stupid comment. You, Trumpists, have been brainwashed beautifully by your cult leader. Not an ounce of intelligence in your brain!
Nice try with the savings vs. deficit graph. You forgot the little piece called tariffs. Look a wee bit different amiga.
You really don’t understand anything about tariffs, do you! And yet, you show us how ignorant you are. Typical! Funny and sad!
It would be so nice if you could go back to writing articles about business and technology. Instead of every article being about your hatred for Trump and Musk.
whether you like it or not, Scott has a voice in this country and is using it.
It’s analogous to Hollywood stars and celebrities voicing their political opinion. Just because they have “a voice” doesn’t mean that the voice is any good. People are drawn to Scott for their financial content, not to hear his TDS ramblings.
Can you even read!? It’s DAS (Democracy Addiction Syndrome), bitch.
I want to hear his political opinion! So stfu! You don’t like free speech when it’s not pro-Trump?
I merely stated that his political analysis isn’t any good (as evidenced by his near certainty that Kamala would win), not that he shouldn’t be allowed to voice his opinion to feed your confirmation bias. Big difference there. Learn to read, idiot.
I find it maddening that the MAGA folks only tell you to stick to your knitting when they disagree with you – they never remind Kid Rock or Curt Schilling to “shut up and dribble”. People have informed opinions outside of their profession.
Yeah! Those Trumpists like free speech when it’s pro-Trump but hate it when it’s anti-Trump. Very rational people, lol!
Broad sweeping categorizations of groups as ” Those Trumpists” is always helpful to constructive and rational dialogue Zoe. Bravo!
It would be nice if Trump and Musk weren’t tearing down the systems and norms all of us in the world depend on. Im guessing when adults are making adult decisions for the betterment of their constituencies and mankind, Scott will go back to pondering telework. You should be as mad as he is. We all should.
Scott,
While some of your points are valid. The overwhelming issue is that waste and excess in the federal government has to be addressed. The choice is that will not be a country as we’re on the brink of bankruptcy. I believe the implication have far more devastating consequences for the country (and even the world) than the implications you raised in your left leaning highly bias article. Spend some time looking at the progress society made during the industrial revolution. Yes there are names we all know that disproportionately benefit…so what. The world is a vastly superior place because of it.
Great CEOs are from time to time force to cut costs. This is no different, except the bureatric state has run unchecked for too damn long. I can’t understand why any tax payer wouldn’t want this (unless of course they are a beneficiary). I look forward to the day when we learn how prominent member of congress (both sides) built their networths to $50 to 100 M on salaries under $250k per year. The corruption is rampant and not what our founding fathers expected! I find the lefts tactics absolutely absurd. There is no policy. Just blatant TDS. So is the belief that spending more then you can possibly collect can continue, boys belong in girl sports, woke will produce the best results…. I just don’t get it.
Trump has a mandate and God help the country (and the world), if he doesn’t achieve it.
I may have TDS- and quite frankly at this point it is a badge of honor as it represents striving to be better, and not to win regardless of the means.
And I want Trump to succeed as Americans depend on him and his administration. I largely agree with your comments. TDS? Enough of the inefficiency and waste that is the hallmark of big government. It’s time to try something different. If DOGE is successful it will be judged properly in the long run- not in the initial pain it brings. Go DOGE!
I read your comment and have a 3 letter response: LOL
Riiiiight. There is ZERO waste, fraud and abuse in federal systems and spending????? Musk and DOGE are just lying and making it all up???? That’s Galloway’s argument????
Yeah, you obviously don’t know what is going on. One day, you will wake up and you will realize you have been brainwashed by your king Trump!!!
As always, well said. I usually agree with your thought process. Here’s the question most people are asking…..our citizens have relied on the balance of power, the 3 branches of government to keep the ship afloat. Sometimes that safety net works against us by not allowing our country and the majority of the population to move forward. Now unless the Supreme Court stands up and does the right thing, how do we the people, aside from the midterm elections, stop the ship from sinking?
Brilliant. When will the Dems and moderate Repubs listen??
Unfortunately, the Dems in congress have no spine and will absolutely give in re the debt ceiling
Trump: “I own the circus, so I pick the CLOWNS1” and boy has he. I am dumbfounded that our Republican Senators just passed those clowns through and had no difficulty putting them in the main ring. Yes, and the ringmaster (master of ceremonies) is Elon Musk….but then as a republican I didn’t vote for Trump and could not see myself vote for Harris. So…I won’t be buying a ticket to the circus only watching its side shows on television.
Didn’t vote? Your hands are not clean. “The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing.”
amen brother.
You are the best Scott. Happy you exist.
I have DAS too. Well written. Keep writing and speaking from wherever you are in the world. We need your leadership.
“$1”? Thanks for the inspiring newsletter!
It’s entertaining watching Scott’s descent into TDS!
And yours too. Both sides have it.
Love that this includes some tangible things Democrats can try. So far it seems like mostly resignation from that side. It’s time for activism!
Please never stop writing. Your insights mixed with appropriate vitriol are keeping me sane.
What people haven’t realized is that Starlink should be capable of low earth orbit surveillance of almost the entire surface of the earth in real time
Do you mean like Google Earth? OMG!
I am listening to Yuval Noah H.’s Nexus at the moment. And your post draws some parallel and raises questions… If by definition conservative would mean “status quo” or conserve what we know as opposed to being progressive (democratic) and clearing the slate and starting over reminds us of totalitarian attempts of the past, where are we heading????
I think your chart on federal spending vs. taxes has the wrong sign next to $1.00. it should be ” $1.00″
Both arrows point in the wrong direction in this chart.
Scott – This is great as always. The chart showing tax cuts vs. DOGE + Ukraine is laugh out loud funny (if it weren’t so sad). I would guess many people would be shocked by the magnitude here. In the end, I think most people vote with their checkbooks and the stark reality is that today’s Republican policies as you point out are awful for the majority of the population. You are a brand and marketing expert. Can you please engage with the Democratic party in some way to come up with an electorate education strategy that impresses this upon people in a simple, clear cut way that does not come across as haughty why these policies don’t work for them? There is so much BS and misdirection that simple facts get lost. Appealing to self interest in an empathetic way is the strategy to win votes.
Scott mentioned it in his column, but the Dems need to stop being the party of “ideals” and focus on the pocketbook issues. It’s a “the 1% vs the Rest of Us” war. And worrying about /defending allowing transgender surgery on teenagers is hardly going to win us (Dems) the votes and – most importantly – the share of voice. What else have we got to counter the endless “flooding the zone with shit?” MORE needs to be said about the ways the red states are suffering from the arbitrary and damaging cuts to important agencies like NIH, USAID, CDC, Dept of Energy… WHERE is the leadership!!!!!
Scott, your analysis is excellent. Right now I (European) can not listen to most of the extremely depressing news. Your podcasts and your newsletters are giving me the information, analysis and hope I need. Thank you so much!
The chart on state funds does not look correct, should it not be less than 1, 1 to 2 then greater than 2.
Scott, I’ve commented before on your partisan view, but your lack of self-awareness continues to glow. You jump to many conclusions without acknowledging that words do not equate to deeds but are merely a starting point in a negotiation. You don’t have to like the people but should appreciate their spines. Over the last 4 years, the leadership vacuum in the US destabilized the world and wrecked our economy. You may disagree with policies, words, and approaches, but let’s judge them on the outcomes.
Regarding Putin, anyone paying attention knows that Ukraine has been a corrupt honeypot of fraud for well over 3 decades. Even the Biden family “brain trust” was part of a money-making scheme there. No one is “surrendering to Putin”. He will pay dearly for his overt aggression.
RE DOGE, you fall into the trap of focusing on Musk as if he’s involved for nefarious reasons (he needs the money, right?), while ignoring the systemic fraud and corruption that has grown throughout our government agencies – fueled by massive spending accelerated by COVID. Downsizing is not new. Bill Clinton downsized by firing 400,000 federal workers, but when Republicans do it, they’re accused of “burning down the house” or becoming, as you say an “Autocracy”. Combining AI with transparency will change how government is run and return it to a system “by the people, and for the people” once again. Only fraudsters would be against that.
Great comment
If James Bond was a real person, he would have come for Musk already…. Musk is the prototype Bond villain – smart, unhinged, owns media, rockets, satellites, etc. seems funny the Hugo Drax in Moonraker was a similarly benevolent sole…
Elon has definitely taken the crown for the most dangerous individual on earth. He’s a narcissist egomaniac that believes his idea of humanity’s destiny is the only one worthy of consideration. At this point, we can only hope the political winds will blow strong enough to sweep these men from power or that frailty of the human body will show them that their grasp on power is fleeting.
Scott used to be a thoughtful guy; he has, unfortunately, gone mental, and it’s sad to see ideologies take root within arguably higher IQs. The worst part is the hypocrisy on wealth when Scott has repeatedly said his obsession was to make $100M (“my number”), running companies and employees harder than the “DOGE’s SWAT team”. Rationality has left the building, so I no longer listen to his podcasts and won’t read that newsletter anymore… I was a long time Democrat, then I realized we were DUPED (Biden “smart of a Tack”; Kamala voted in without primaries; Bernie screwed over by Clinton and Debbie Wasserman Schultz; Open borders, Rampant Debt, etc.). The left is done, probably for decades! They showed their true colors as a nefarious, Warmongering, fraudulent force. Red, Blue or Yellow, we should embrace a leader’s willingness to challenge the status Quo and seek PEACE…. So Scott, Peace out!
Amen to that, Fred. Hypocrisy is lost on the left. They loved the billionaire ruling class as long as it supported their agenda (Soros, Winfrey, Clooney, Cuban, etc.). The left’s strategy is to embed the administrative and judicial state with a vast majority of ideologues who resist and undermine any Republican agenda until they can regain control (step 1). Meanwhile, flood our country with migrants (step 2) who will certainly gain amnesty and a fast track to citizenship for humanity’s sake (step 3). Give Puerto Rico and DC statehood for additional congressional seats for good measure (step 4), and stay in power forever – or until it collapses under their misguided belief that they can print money without recourse. Trump and Musk are exposing it all. If they fail, America’s demise will be certain.
I have multiple friends who were life-long Democrats, who didn’t vote for Trump the first time, but changed their minds the second time. The party that used to be aligned with the working class is now the party of billionaire donors and academic elitists, like Scott Galloway.
Scott – it must be a point of pride to be the target of troll farms. I mean, if you didn’t matter they wouldn’t target you for disinformation.
Thank you for your succinct overview of what’s happening. I’ve been trying to hard to ignore the distractions. This helps! Way to go Dog!
Very valid point!
“He may or may not suffer from Asperger’s, but he definitely suffers from being an asshole.”
Yes, agreed. These types of comments are helpful to getting the populace more educated and civic minded.
The current DOGE effort is reminiscent of the Clinton/Gore Nat’l Performance Review (on the heels of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the mythical “peace dividend”) that had applaudable results in the 1993-2000 time frame:
1. A total of 426K Federal gov’t jobs were eliminated through terminations, consolidations, and early retirement incentives. This was against a base of 2.2MM jobs v today with 2.85MM jobs. Huge cut – 25%.
2. Jobs were reduced on the org chart by consolidating regional offices and shipping programs back to the states. Very straight forward organizational changes.
3. Jobs were reduced by automation — in particular the Post Office (today employes 650K). Maybe we privatize the USPS?
4. This led to a savings of more than $200B which given the then gov’t size was substantial.
5. This was formalized by the Federal Workforce Restructuring Act (1994) and the Government Performance and Results Act (1993). Arguably those two acts provide sufficient authority for Trump to do what he is doing today.
Musk has a direct, confrontational style, but he is the highest achiever in the world today and has a higher command of the potential to harness technology — the Clinton effort was executed by 400 gov’t employees who were “seconded” to the effort.
Your opposition is shallow and knee jerk. There is so much fraud and corruption that it is impossible to imagine any fair minded person objecting to the picking of this low hanging fruit.
We are 30 days into this effort and the progress is amazing.
JLM
Jeffrey,
With all due respect where is the evidence that “the progress is amazing”? Isn’t that the real problem, it’s being done secretly? He spends a day or two looking at an organization then fires off an email instructing the authority to lay off some arbitrary percentage of workers. By the way, have they managed to rehire the bird flu experts they fired and locked out of their email accounts?
If he is a “high achiever” why has all his business always relied on government funding that has now mutated into him flat out stealing money from the federal government, especially from programs for the poor? Those of us in tech have known he is a fraud for some time. But I get it, he’s an uneducated man’s idea of what a genius is.
Democrats don’t care about fixing the federal budget until the other party is in charge. And even then they expect everything to be fixed within 1 month.
Thank you, Scott. Supposedly Musk is targeting fraud and abuse, but that’s clearly not true. Frequently it’s mentioned that he’s also “looking at the systems.” I suppose that falls under efficiency and I bet they need upgrading. I know people in state government that told me they still use a DOS prompt sometimes. So who will get those contracts? Anybody? What’s more frightening, another Trump term, or an orderly transition to a new administration running on Musk’s code?
The Treasury Department is running an accounting system that does not affix any information as to authorization, contract, appropriation, or a GL code. Quicken would be an improvement.
JLM
I came back to podcasts recently as an information substitute for traditional news. We’ll see if it works. So I’m somewhat aware of Scott Galloway, who came more into view by way of Kara Swisher. Here’s the thing- it’s a really tired act really quickly losing steam. The virtue signaling with the (he thinks subtle) not-so-subtle lines about his economic standing compared to those lesser off, but it really really matters and I’m fine because I’m in another economic sphere. We get it Scott, you’re rich. Perhaps finally spin that one around and find just one other fresh reason for us to listen to you, because where you may have what others don’t, this weighing in because you’re championing the cause for the little guy, well, we know that part already. Jeez, I know full well, just after 4 or 5 episodes. Baby steps…see if you can pull off one episode without dropping into this ‘the world is fucked but me and my kids will be okay’ tuck. In the end it’s just ego and arrogance and it muddies the message.
Excellent article, as always, and great/unique no holds barred writing style. Also, I’ve been waiting for someone to write about the threat of the Starlink system , so thanks for including that info. Hard to believe that there are so many satellites and other items circling the globe at any given moment, as if there were no controls or limits. Thanks again for a very insightful article, including pertinent data.
Years ago when I was looking for patterns in large data sets (large for then) I determined that if I found an error in one data set, it meant I had to look closely at the rest of the data because there were likely (and almost always were) more. Ya lost me at Nazi Salute. You know better.
From the above comments I get the feeling most of you think everything that the government does should be compared to the running of a company. It isn’t even close. We will lose all of our friends throughout the world , not to mention we have an idiot running the country that hasn’t a clue as to what he is doing. Wake up and get a clue before it’s too late!
The government does not have to run like a business per se. But, $30+ Trillion in debt is a bit much!
I like your hyperbole, but it’s good to note that it is hyperbole. Musk didn’t present a Nazi salute. Everything else you wrote is good to consider, though. In particular, how the Left can force MAGA to compromise by targeting the upstream of the Treasury Dept’s printer of checks. On the other hand, how in the world can anything be cut and brought back to reality concerning government spending without a little autocracy? The question should be, how much autocracy are we talking about? Isn’t Musk’s mandate ending July 4, 2026? If it does end, MAGA did good for the country to expose the stupidity and largesse of government spending and maybe, just maybe, heralded in a large budget reduction along the way. How much MAGA cuts justifies how much MAGA acts as an autocracy for this short while.
100%Correct
“Don’t trust the wealthy as they care only about amassing more wealth.” – A guy worth over $100M
Jeez lose the left wing bs. Your podcast is an embarrassment. Could you please go back to economic commentary and some life lesson insights and leave politics alone?
How much USAID money are you on the take for to write this piece? Funny, how you don’t care about how much fraud, waste and abuse DOGE is finding. Instead you are obsessed with Elon. Sounds like you have Elon Derangement Syndrome?
Scott: The sky is not falling. I think there is a lot more positive than negative at the present.
Thanks Scott. You are correct that the wealthy people and corporations are obsessed with wealth. But this whole exercise is just speeding up the resentment against the rich and whether you are a billionaire or not you still have to breath the same air and deal with a shitty climate.