‘Who the hell voted for Big Balls?' Former Clinton adviser rages at Musk's teenage DOGE hire
Paul Begala, a Democratic strategist and CNN political contributor, raged Wednesday evening on The Source hosted by Kaitlan Collins about the teenage adviser who is known by a cringe-worthy nickname.
Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old high school grad, college dropout and DOGE worker known online as 'Big Balls,' is now listed as a senior adviser at the State Department 's Bureau of Diplomatic Technology.
'Who the hell voted for Mr. Musk?' Begala asked during the heated discussion. 'Who the hell voted for – excuse the phrase – a guy who calls himself 'Big Balls,' a 19-year-old kid going in there and trying to fire cancer researchers and scientists and teachers and agricultural specialists? It's appalling.'
Coristine was reportedly fired last year from an internship after he leaked information to a rival firm.
Begala, who appeared on CNN alongside Republican strategist Brad Todd, said earlier in the segment that he agreed with DOGE's mission to cut federal spending, but not the way Musk team is going about it.
'I have a pro tip for President Trump: If you want to reduce the federal workforce, maybe a good idea, try going the constitutional route,' Begala said.
The former adviser said that the Clinton administration reduced the federal workforce by passing the Workforce Restructuring Act of 1994 in the Senate, which he said resulted in the lowest headcount of 'any president since Eisenhower.'
And 'we still took care of special needs kids and our veterans and created 30 million new jobs,' Begala said. 'So you can do this, but you've got to follow the Constitution.'
Many of the DOGE staffers have been scrutinized due to their lack of experience or proximity to Musk's other businesses. It's unclear any of them have been vetted.
Coristine, who dropped out from Northeastern University to work in Silicon Valley and who once interned at Musk's brain implant company Neuralink, is one of seven relatively young men identified by Wired as part of Musk's incursion into the federal government with reported access to millions of Americans' personal financial and medical information.
Bloomberg reported Coristine was previously fired from a cybersecurity internship after being accused of leaking company secrets to a competitor, though he claimed to have "never exploited it.'
An unidentified federal worker claimed at a recent town hall meeting in Leesburg, Virginia that seasoned federal workers have been forced to justify their jobs in 15- minute sessions with '19-, 20- and 21-year-old' Doge staffers with little or no work experience of their own.
Donald Trump has stood by Musk's young hires.
'I'm very proud of the job that this group of young people, generally young people, but very smart people, they're doing,' Trump said last week. 'They're doing it at my insistence. It would be a lot easier not to do it, but we have to take some of these things apart to find the corruption.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
BRIAN READE: 'We must shame rich into sharing fortunes to rebuild Broken Britain'
As The Entertainer toy store boss retires and leaves his £80million firm to his workforce, Brian Reade says we need to force the wealthy to share their fortunes Politicians often use working-class names to show that they are down with the common folk. The Republican 2008 US presidential hopeful John McCain constantly evoked 'Joe The Plumber' to signify his blue-collar credentials. Although the plumber couldn't stop his campaign going down the toilet. When Margaret Thatcher privatised British Gas in 1986, ad men urged us 'If you see Sid, tell him' to buy some shares. Sadly many did, then flogged them to City firms who scammed us, and we ended up wanting to gas Sid. But I think I've found a winner for Labour as they seek to do what everyone knows they need to do but are too scared to: force those whose wealth has soared since the bankers' crisis to share some of their fortune with our skint Treasury. They should put posters in City clubs, adverts across right-wing media and project images on to all the HQs of FTSE 100 companies saying: 'Be more like Gary.' Let me explain. Gary Grant who owns Britain's biggest toy retailer The Entertainer is retiring and giving his £80million business to the firm's 1,900 workers. He is transferring ownership of the family's 160-shop chain to an employee trust, meaning staff get to share the profits and decide its future, rather than flog it to cost-slashing corporate hawks. 'If the business had been sold just for money that would not have been passing on the baton in the way the family wanted,' said the practising Christian, with one of the delighted workers saying: 'He always looks after us. It's a typical Gary thing to do.' 'Gary things' have happened before. In 2019, Julian Richer handed control of his audio chain Richer Sounds to staff, giving them 60% of his shares, triggering a windfall of around £4million. Also challenging the stereotype of the vampire capitalist obsessed with multi-million pound bonuses is a selfless group called Patriotic Millionaires UK, who are campaigning for people like them to pay more tax. They point out that the top 10% owns 57% of the UK's wealth, while the bottom half owns less than 5%, and believe making those at the top pay more tax would drive down inequality and help rebuild Broken Britain. They also dismiss as a myth the notion that Labour is driving out the rich, pointing out that 'less than 0.3%' of the country's three million millionaires are projected to emigrate. The likes of Gary Grant, Julian Richer and the Patriotic Millionaires should have a seat in the Cabinet to advise Labour how to incentivise other CEOs and millionaires to 'do a Gary thing.' These are the people who understand that success and happiness is not defined by the width of your wallet but the depth of your compassion. That the most patriotic thing you can do is share your wealth with the people who helped you make it. Patriotic Millionaires (motto: 'Proud to pay, here to stay') also point to a recent poll carried out by Survation which claimed 80% of millionaires support a 2% wealth tax on assets over £10million. Why don't Labour test that? Why not hold a summit with the CBI, invite prominent millionaires, and call on them all to 'do the Gary thing'. Then name and stain the non-patriotic refuseniks. Maybe if Labour can't soak the rich into paying more, it's time to shame them into it.
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Alaska is a 'strategic' location for Trump-Putin summit
But Alaska itself is preparing to play an increasing role on the world stage as climate change opens up new shipping routes close to the North Pole as Russia, China and the United States contest the polar seas for dominance. More: It was sold in 1867, but some Russians want Alaska back from the US Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan, a Republican, said in a statement that picking Alaska was natural: His home state is "the most strategic place in the world." The United States bought Alaska from Russia in 1867 under what was dubbed "Seward's Folly" by the then-Interior secretary William Seward, who persuaded Congress to pony up the equivalent of $160 million in today's dollars. Trump has visited Alaska several times as president, pushed for expanded oil, gas and mining permits there, and even got funding for new polar icebreakers, a popular stance in a state he won with 54% of the vote in 2024. The face-to-face meeting between the men was billed as a "listening exercise" by the White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. "The goal of this meeting for the president is to walk away with a better understanding of how we can end this war," Leavitt told reporters during an Aug. 12 news briefing. Safe space for Putin Historians and political scientists say the location offers a surprising variety of benefits, chief among them the fact that no one is likely to try arrest Putin there. The two men are meeting as part of Trump's efforts to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which prompted the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Putin after indicting him for war crimes. "I don't think it's a good time for him to go to Europe," former Alaska Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell said of Putin. In addition to the arrest warrant, the Russian strongman might have trouble flying over Europe and Canada, both of which have closed their airspace to Russian aircraft. The United States has done the same, but Trump is apparently waiving that Biden-era ban for Putin's visit. Trump's flight from Washington, DC, will take about seven hours. Some experts have also criticized Trump's decision to host Putin on U.S. soil - no matter how far it is from the White House - because it legitimizes the Russian leader. Putin last year received 87% of the votes cast in the Russian presidential election, a statistic one elections expert likened to the "sham" elections held in African dictatorships. Closer than most people realize Because Russia and Alaska are separated only by a narrow stretch of the Bering Sea - yes, there are places where you can really see Russia from your American house - the logistics of getting both men there are relatively simple, Russian presidential assistant Yuri Ushakov told the BBC. The closest distance between the two countries are the tiny islands of Little and Big Diomede. Little Diomede is American, while Big Diomede is Russian, although families have long been split between the two, a reflection of Russia's former ownership of Alaska. The two islands are just three miles apart. The two mainlands themselves are only 55 miles apart where Alaska's Seward Peninsula and Russia's Chukotka Peninsula sit on opposite sides of the Bering Sea. The National Park Service's Bering Land Bridge National Preserve exists in part to highlight how the two peninsulas were once connected, allowing ancient peoples to migrate from the Eurasian landmass east into North America. "It seems quite logical for our delegation simply to fly over the Bering Strait and for such an important and anticipated summit of the leaders of the two countries to be held in Alaska," Ushakov said. Because Alaska was once part of Russia, some cultural ties also remain: There are about 80 Russian Orthodox churches and chapels still standing across Alaska, many of them on the state's western islands and peninsulas close to the Bering Sea. The first Russian Orthodox Church was established in on Kodiak Island in 1794, and Holy Resurrection Orthodox Cathedral still holds services there. During the Cold War, the threat of Soviet invasion from the west prompted heavy defense investment in missile-warning systems in Alaska, along with marine and air patrols that continue to this day. The base where Putin and Trump are meeting is home to fighter aircraft like the F-22 Raptor, which is used to intercept Russian military planes as they fly close to the border. Russian invasion pushed Ukrainians to Alaska While there has long been a Russian community in Alaska, several hundred Ukranian refugees have also moved there under federal humanitarian programs following Russia's 2022 invasion. Trump put that program on indefinite hold upon taking office. Trump is meeting with Putin without Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a move that has concerned some European leaders who have pledged their unconditional support in his country's efforts to repel Russia. European leaders have expressed concern that Trump would pressure Ukraine to make too many concessions to Putin. But Treadwell said he believes everyone can agree that ending the war should be a top priority, and if this meeting in Alaska is what it takes, it's worth it. "There are a lot of former Russians who live in Alaska and a lot of former Ukranians who live in Alaska," he said. "If this leads to peace, I think we'd all be very happy." Alaska has long been a stopover for diplomatic missions In addition to its strategic military importance, Anchorage is a familiar stopover for diplomatic missions traveling between Europe and Asia. In 1971, President Richard Nixon met with the Emperor of Japan on the tarmac in Anchorage as Hirohito traveled to Europe for meetings. It was the first time a reigning Japanse monarch had stepped foot on foreign soil, Nixon said, according to his presidential library. Nixon also noted their meeting took place approximately equidistant from the White House as to Tokyo. Pope John Paul II stopped in Anchorage in 1981 on his way back to Rome from Japan, touring the city and meeting with the faithful. He also met with President Ronald Reagan in Fairbanks in 1984. In 2021, then-Secretary of State Anthony Blinken met with his Chinese counterparts for several days of trade talks held at a hotel that was considered the midpoint between the two country's capitals. Trump-Putin meeting comes during Alaska's busiest season While the White House has not discussed the reason for having the meeting on the military base, one factor may have played a key role: This is Alaska's tourist season and every place else is booked solid. More than 2 million tourists visit Alaska annually, the vast majority of them traveling via cruise ships and the historic Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Denali National Park, according to state statistics. Trump early on in his administration named Denali back to its former name of Mount McKinley, which President Barack Obama had renamed to honor Alaska Native people. Trump said he was changing the name back to honor the tariff-loving former President William McKinley, who was also responsible for adding Hawaii, Guam and several other territories to the United States. Federal officials have warned that passenger and cargo flights to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport may be affected by temporary flight restrictions during the Trump-Putin meeting on Aug. 15 and early Aug. 16. August is the airport's second-busiest month behind July, according to airport officials. The flight restrictions will also impact the adjacent Lake Hood Seaplane Base, the world's busiest seaplane base. Although many other presidents have taken their counterparts on sighteeing trips, or used state visits to do their own tourism, there's little indication Trump and Putin will be taking the time to go fishing or land on a glacier. Intead, Trump said he expects to know "probably in the first two minutes," whether he can reach a deal with Putin. Treadwell, who was the state's lieutenant governor from 2010-2014, said there could be another reason for Trump to agree to meet at JBER: the sprawling 36-hole Moose Run Golf Course. Along with sand traps and water hazards, he said, players there must periodically avoid moose and bears. "In the summer here, you can play golf until almost midnight, but I doubt he'll have time for that," he said. "I think people of all political stripes hope this meeting will produce peace."
The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Obama slams Texas Republicans in statement on redistricting battle
In an Aug. 14 post on X, Obama praised the Texas Democrats, building on his initial public condemnation of Republicans' push to add five new GOP congressional seats more than a week earlier. The former Democratic president has taken a more subdued role in politics since leaving office, and again since a brief return to the national spotlight to support his party in the 2024 election. "I am so proud of the @TexasHDC and the work that they've done," Obama wrote, resharing a post from the Texas House Democrats thanking him for his support. "Their willingness to put themselves on the line to highlight the current assault on our democracy has set an example for what all of us have to do." More: Texas AG asks judge to arrest Beto O'Rourke for redistricting battle fundraising Obama first jumped into the fray in an Aug. 5 post, calling Texas Republicans' push to add five new GOP congressional seats "a power grab that undermines our democracy." The state's battle has ballooned into a multi-state skirmish since Democrats fled their home state Aug. 3, blocking Republicans' attempts to vote on the new maps. In the days that followed, Texas' Republican Gov. Greg Abbott ordered arrest warrants for the Democrats who fled, and Trump suggested the FBI may have to force them back to the state. Abbot said in a statement earlier in the week that he intended to call for a second legislative session, after Texas' House and Senate signaled both chambers would adjourn on Friday, Aug. 15, due to the lack of a quorum prompted by the absent Democrats. Democratic lawmakers, such as New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, have taken a confrontational stance toward the proposed map, with several governors hosting the Texas Democrats after they fled. Hochul said Democrats will "fight fire with fire" and counter Texas Republicans' planned redistricting, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Aug. 14 that his state would hold a special election Nov. 4 to ask voters to approve a mid-decade redistricting plan that would likely advantage Democrats in the deeply blue state. Somewhat of a map-drawing arms race has ensued, with Republican-led states such as Florida and Ohio looking to redistrict in response. 'Stand up and fight' In their post thanking Obama for attending the meeting, Texas Democrats shared a photo of the president on a large screen in front of more than a dozen attendees. I am so proud of the @TexasHDC and the work that they've done. Their willingness to put themselves on the line to highlight the current assault on our democracy has set an example for what all of us have to do. — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 15, 2025 "Your words reminded us why we broke quorum: Democracy isn't self-executing. It requires us to stand up and fight for it," the caucus said in its post. "We're honored by your support." Public opinion on gerrymandering In a recent national poll, public opinion about redrawing maps, referred to as gerrymandering, appeared mixed. More than two-thirds said partisan gerrymandering should not be allowed in the YouGov/Economist poll conducted Aug. 9-11. Yet when asked if it should be allowed in retaliation to another party redrawing its maps, 35% said it would be ok, and 30% said no. Another 36% said they were not sure. Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@ and on X @KathrynPlmr.
