The writer David W. Brown, who has long covered NASA and the space industry, joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss Elon Musk’s takeover of NASA, the agency’s increasingly complicated relationship with SpaceX, and whether Donald Trump’s interest in sending people to Mars will spare the space program from DOGE’s downsizing. This week’s reading:<ul>
<li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/inside-trump-and-musks-takeover-of-nasa">Inside Trump and Musk’s Takeover of NASA</a>,” by David W. Brown</li>
<li>
“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-financial-page/dont-believe-trumps-promises-about-protecting-the-social-safety-net">Don’t Believe Trump’s Promises About Protecting the Social Safety Net</a>,” by John Cassidy</li>
<li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/03/31/the-epa-vs-the-environment">The E.P.A. vs. the Environment</a>,” by Elizabeth Kolbert </li>
<li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/03/31/miracles-and-wonder-elaine-pagels-book-review-heretic-catherine-nixey">We’re Still Not Done with Jesus</a>,” by Adam Gopnik</li>
<li>“<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/sports/sporting-scene/is-march-madness-all-luck">Is March Madness All Luck?</a>,” by Tyler Foggatt</li>
</ul>To discover more podcasts from The New Yorker, visit <a href="http://newyorker.com/podcasts">newyorker.com/podcasts</a>. To send feedback on this episode, write to <a href="mailto:themail@newyorker.com">themail@newyorker.com</a>.

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