Today, we’re discussing a very big problem with extremely far-reaching consequences: Do we still have a functional federal government here in the United States? And how much of it has been handed entirely to Elon Musk? If you’ve been following the news, you know there’s a lot here that’s unfolding very fast, but I wanted to know how all these changes are affecting the people who’ve so far been the most newly supportive of Trump because they have the most to lose – the money, the billionaires. So I invited New York Times reporter Teddy Schleiffer, who’s been covering this closely every day since the inauguration, on the show to help break it down.Links: <ul>
<li>Inside Musk's aggressive incursion into the federal government | <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/us/politics/musk-federal-government.html">NYT</a>
</li>
<li>‘The biggest heist in American history’: DC is just waking up to Musk’s takeover | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/606567/elon-musk-government-takeover-protest-doge">Verge</a>
</li>
<li>‘Scared and betrayed’ — workers are reeling from chaos at federal agencies | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/605611/trump-elon-musk-federal-government-employee">Verge</a>
</li>
<li>Treasury Department sued over DOGE takeover | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/605614/treasury-department-sued-over-doge-takeover">Verge</a>
</li>
<li>Can anyone stop President Musk? | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/politics/605609/musk-trump-doge-takeover-crisishttps://www.theverge.com/politics/605609/musk-trump-doge-takeover-crisis">Verge</a>
</li>
<li>Elon Musk’s team one has access to Treasury’s payments system | <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/01/us/politics/elon-musk-doge-federal-payments-system.html">NYT</a>
</li>
<li>Elon Musk’s bureaucratic coup | <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/02/elon-musk-bureaucratic-coup/681559/?gift=bQgJMMVzeo8RHHcE1_KM0WBeHzOXI-QvNDe77JFppiU&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share">Atlantic</a>
</li>
<li>Trump: Elon Musk won't do anything 'without our approval' | <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/video/trump-says-elon-musk-will-not-act-without-his-approval-230970949851">NBC News</a>
</li>
<li>The young, inexperienced engineers aiding Musk’s government takeover | <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-government-young-engineers/">Wired</a>
</li>
<li>USDS head Mina Hsiang wants big tech to help fix government (2023) | <a href="https://www.theverge.com/23997640/usds-mina-hsiang-white-house-obama-big-tech-government-decoder-interview">Decoder</a>
</li>
</ul>Credits:Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. Our editor is Ursa Wright. The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

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