DOGE Has a Math Problem
The Daily
03/04/25
•25m
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Since President Trump took office, Elon Musk and DOGE have wielded an unprecedented level of power to help the administration cut the U.S. government, and they claim to have stopped tens of billions of dollars in wasteful spending.
David A. Fahrenthold, an investigative reporter for The Times, explains why those claims are not what they seem — and what that tells us about Mr. Musk’s project to shrink the federal bureaucracy.
Guest: David A. Fahrenthold, an investigative reporter for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- DOGE’s only public ledger has been riddled with mistakes.
- The group has now deleted hundreds of claimed savings, worth billions of dollars, from that ledger.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
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Previous Episode
The Fallout From Zelensky and Trump’s Oval Office Meltdown
March 3, 2025
•34m
On Friday, President Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine in an explosive televised Oval Office meeting and abruptly cut short a visit that was meant to help coordinate a plan for peace.
Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent for The Times, discusses the clash and its consequences.
Guest: Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times, covering President Trump and his administration.
Background reading:
- Mr. Trump berated Mr. Zelensky in a fiery exchange at the White House.
- The public blowup could propel President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to escalate the fight in Ukraine instead of agreeing to peace.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Next Episode
In his first address to Congress on Tuesday night, President Trump took a highly partisan victory lap as Democratic lawmakers openly protested against him.
Maggie Haberman, a White House correspondent for The Times, walks us through the speech, including the reactions to it in the room.
Guest: Maggie Haberman, a White House correspondent for The New York Times.
Background reading:
- A combative President Trump taunted his political rivals during his speech.
- Here are six takeaways from Mr. Trump’s address to Congress.
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
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