Latest news with #D.O.G.E.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawrence O'Donnell Says Trump Silence on Elon Musk's Budget Bill Hate Is an ‘Expression of Fear'
Lawrence O'Donnell suggested that President Donald Trump must be running scared from his former right-hand-man Elon Musk, saying his silence amid the tech CEO's slew of anti-budget bill social media posts only shows Trump is terrified of the billionaire. 'Elon Musk declared today, on day 134 of the Trump presidency, 'I just can't stand it anymore.' And in response, the explosively rageful Donald Trump said nothing,' O'Donnell said on his MSNBC program 'The Last Word.' 'And that is how you know who Donald Trump fears in this world. If you attack Donald Trump and Donald Trump says nothing, Donald Trump's silence is the biggest expression of fear that he has.' Before calling Trump a scaredy cat, O'Donnell outlined how Musk, who has since exited his position as the leader of Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.), flipped the switch on his former right-hand-man by attacking Trump's proposed 'big beautiful bill,' which seeks to slice funding for Medicaid and the country's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and includes a number of tax cuts among other changes. Per a projection from the Congressional Budget Office, the Republican-led bill, which has been passed by the House, would tack on another $2.3 trillion in debt for the country over the next 10 years. Since its proposal, Musk has slammed the bill in a series of tweets. 'I'm sorry, but I just can't stand it anymore. This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination,' Musk wrote on X on Tuesday. 'Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it.' On Wednesday, Musk called on his followers to 'call your Senator,' 'call your Congressman' to report any grievances. 'Bankrupting America is NOT ok! KILL the BILL,' Musk posted. So far, neither Trump nor his administration have released a statement related to Musk's remarks. O'Donnell said Trump's decision to not respond is rooted in Trump being terrified of Musk using his power, influence, and maybe most importantly, his money. He also noted that Musk's tweets could be a tantrum he's throwing after his hopes to stay on as the head of D.O.G.E. beyond the 130-day period were denied. 'And if true, then Elon Musk was effectively fired by Donald Trump, which could explain Elon Musk screaming at the top of his Twitter lungs this morning, 'I just can't stand it anymore,'' O'Donnell said. He continued: 'Donald Trump fears not being able to get more money from the richest person in the world. Donald Trump fears the richest person in the world turning his money against Donald Trump's candidates and Republican primary elections. And Donald Trump fears the richest person in the world convincing Republican members of the Senate and the House not to vote for Donald Trump's budget bill that Elon Musk now calls a 'disgusting abomination.' A disgusting abomination.'' Toward the end of his broadcast, O'Donnell touched on Musk calling for the firing of every Republican who voted for the bill, which, in effect, includes Trump, he said. 'Today, after his two-hour Twitter silence, Elon said, 'We fire all politicians who betrayed the American people.' That means Elon Musk wants to fire every single Republican member of the House of Representatives, except for two who voted for the disgusting abomination of the bill,' O'Donnell said. 'Two Republicans didn't vote for it, and that has to mean that Elon Musk wants to fire the man apparently fired him on Friday … That's Elon Musk saying that Donald Trump betrayed the American people by pushing this bill … So there it is. On the 134th Day of the Trump presidency, Elon Musk wants to fired Donald Trump for betraying the American people, which is five years late.' The post Lawrence O'Donnell Says Trump Silence on Elon Musk's Budget Bill Hate Is an 'Expression of Fear' | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Jon Stewart Tackles Elon Musk's Exit From the Trump Administration: ‘This Guy Has Seen Some S–t'
On this week's episode of 'The Daily Show,' Jon Stewart covered the end of Elon Musk's chapter with D.O.G.E. and the Trump administration. On May 28, Musk's time as Donald Trump's 'special government employee' came to a close after 128 days. Per the U.S. Department of the Interior, a person can not serve under the title for more than 130 days in a consecutive year. During his time at the White House, Musk led the Department of Government Efficiency, or D.O.G.E., with the intention of slashing excessive government spending. More from Variety Elon Musk Says New York Times Is 'Lying Their Ass Off' About His Alleged Drug Use; Newspaper Defends Coverage X Goes Down: Musk's Social Network Malfunctions for Thousands of Users Donald Trump, Asked About Pardoning Diddy, Says 'I Would Certainly Look at the Facts' and That 'He Used to Really Like Me a Lot' Stewart opened the show by proclaiming, 'D.O.G.E. has finally rooted out one of America's least efficient government workers and marked him for dismissal.' He then cut to Musk's final White House press conference, where he, according to Stewart, looked like a 'guy who had a bad night in a Nashville bar he can't remember,' sporting a 'black eye' and a 'thousand-yard stare.' 'This dude has seen some shit,' Stewart said. 'I'd like to know at least how that happened.' Stewart then played a clip of the press conference, where Musk was asked how he got the black eye. His response: 'I was just horsing around with [my son]. And I said, 'Go ahead, punch me in the face.' And he did.' 'Look, I believe things sometimes do happen when you're roughhousing with your kid,' Stewart said. 'But I'm also sure the one sentence no parent has ever uttered to their child is, 'Go ahead, punch me in the face.'' Stewart added that 'Trump made sure that Elon got something in return' for his service. The clip of the press conference continued, revealing that Trump's parting gift to Musk was a ceremonial golden key. 'I gave him a little special something,' Trump said at the press conference. 'A very special [gift] that I give to very special people. I have given it to some, but it goes to very special people, and I thought I'd given it to Elon as a presentation from our country.' 'You couldn't just give him the fucking key? You had to make sure everybody knows you give them to a lot of people,' Stewart said. ''You know, I've got a bunch of these. I give them to special people like… Who's the guy who brings me my Diet Cokes? I give him one for every Diet Coke. Anyway, enjoy your useless key.'' Watch the entire segment below. Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
Arabian Post
01-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Trump Declares ‘Golden Age' Amid Sweeping Policy Overhauls and Market Turmoil
Donald Trump, upon commencing his second term as the 47th President of the United States, proclaimed the onset of a 'golden age' for the nation. His inauguration speech outlined an ambitious agenda aimed at reshaping domestic and foreign policies, with immediate and far-reaching implications. Central to Trump's address was a commitment to restoring national sovereignty and security. He announced the declaration of a national emergency at the southern border, emphasizing the cessation of illegal immigration. This move aligns with his broader immigration strategy, which includes the suspension of refugee admissions and the initiation of efforts to end birthright citizenship. In a significant restructuring of the federal government, Trump introduced the Department of Government Efficiency , led by Elon Musk. This new department is tasked with streamlining government operations and reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies. Early reports indicate that D.O.G.E. has already identified potential savings amounting to $150 billion. Trump's economic policies focus on revitalizing American industry and addressing trade imbalances. He announced the implementation of steep tariffs, particularly targeting imports from China, Mexico, and Canada. Additionally, he introduced the concept of an 'External Revenue Service' to collect tariffs and taxes from foreign entities, aiming to bolster domestic revenue streams. Environmental regulations underwent immediate revisions, with Trump revoking the electric vehicle mandate and withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement. He emphasized a return to fossil fuel production, including the reinstatement of coal mining operations, positioning these actions as measures to protect American jobs and energy independence. On social policy, Trump declared that the U.S. government would officially recognize only two genders: male and female. He also announced the dismantling of the Department of Education and the repeal of diversity and inclusion measures, advocating for a merit-based, colorblind society. See also Studio Ghibli-Inspired AI Imagery Sparks Surge in Meme Coins Internationally, Trump signaled a shift in foreign policy by expressing intentions to reclaim the Panama Canal and by withdrawing from the World Health Organization. He also imposed sanctions on the International Criminal Court, reflecting a broader strategy of redefining U.S. engagement with global institutions. Notably absent from Trump's speech was any mention of cryptocurrency or Bitcoin. This omission had immediate repercussions in the financial markets. Bitcoin's value dropped by 3.2%, and the $TRUMP memecoin experienced a 15% decline. The broader cryptocurrency market saw liquidations exceeding $1.2 billion, marking one of the most significant downturns in the sector's history. Arabian Post – Crypto News Network
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former agency head on preserving Social Security
Social Security has been getting a lot of attention lately — and not the good kind. The Social Security Administration was already at its smallest size in 50 years, and, now, Elon Musk's D.O.G.E. team has cut another 14% of its employees — 7,000 people — and eliminated phone service for new retirees. About 80,000 people a week will now have to drive to field offices. The administration's website has repeatedly crashed, and the agency's own website puts the average phone wait time at about four hours. "They've already pushed service to people back, nationally, to a pretty horrifying extent. And it's probably going to get worse in the next couple of months," said Michael Astrue, who served as commissioner of the Social Security Administration under former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. "I'm getting calls now all the time, from people that can't get through on the telephone, from people that can't get appointments in the field offices. And it will, in some cases, delay benefits," Astrue shared. "This is a very tough thing for millions of Americans." Referencing arguments by President Trump and Musk that prioritize trimming so-called "waste" at federal agencies like the Social Security Administration, Astrue said the idea of such excess on staff is "just not true" and added, "there is no data to support that claim." "In fact, what experts worry about is not fraud, which the agency itself estimates is below one one-hundredth of a percent of its payouts," he continued. "It's the Social Security time bomb." President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Social Security program in 1935, during the Great Depression, as a safety net to keep Americans out of poverty. Speaking about the initiative around the time of its inception, FDR told Americans that the measure would provide "at least some protection to 50 million of our citizens." Roosevelt enacted a program where the government takes a piece out of every working American's paycheck and pays it to people reaching retirement age. Today, those checks average about $2,000 a month, and they're the primary source of income for 40% of older Americans. "If Social Security were not here, you'd have about 22 million Americans who would be considered poor under the federal standards," said Astrue. "Some of them have no other income." For years, this all worked pretty well. Social Security became America's biggest government program; today, it pays $1.6 trillion to 73 million retired and disabled Americans. But, when World War II ended, the baby boom happened, and all those babies got older. Now, there were a lot more people getting money from the system — and fewer people paying in. And we started living longer. In FDR's day, the average age of death was 63. Now, it's 77, which is 14 more years of payments per person. "You will hear a lot of people saying there will be no Social Security for you. And that's, in all likelihood, not true," Astrue said. "If Congress does nothing, which you have to accept is a real possibility these days, they'll get about 80% of what they get now. And that will be a significant hit for a lot of Americans. We're looking at 2033, 2034, when the bottom will drop out." We've seen this moment coming for years, and all kinds of solutions have been kicked around. We could increase the tax a little. We could shrink the payments a little. We could delay the retirement age, now defined as 62. We could invest the money in the stock market instead of Treasury bills, but that's really risky. A market crash could wipe out the whole thing overnight. Today, you and your employer each contribute about 6% of your paycheck to Social Security, up to a point. There's no tax on anything you make over $176,000. The income line grows. So, here's another idea: Tax more of your earnings by raising that limit. Or even eliminate the limit. The taxable area grows. Astrue expects it'll be some combination of those ideas. "The likelihood is that Congress will panic right toward the deadline," he said. "There will be some cuts in benefits and there'll be some increase in taxation." That deadline is eight years away, but Astrue says that the more immediate problem is the indiscriminate cutting. "The way they're doing it, which is just, meat-axe cuts that are fairly random, is not the way. It's actually going to impair the agency's ability to make productive changes," said Astrue, who clarified that he is a Republican. "I voted for President Trump, so I'm all for change, but I'm all for intelligence change. And the people who are trying to drive this change don't understand the system. I don't think they care." Idaho teen with autism dies after controversial police shooting Nature: Chimpanzees Chimp Haven, the world's largest chimpanzee sanctuary
CBS News
13-04-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Former agency head on preserving Social Security
Social Security has been getting a lot of attention lately — and not the good kind. The Social Security Administration was already at its smallest size in 50 years, and, now, Elon Musk's D.O.G.E. team has cut another 14% of its employees — 7,000 people — and eliminated phone service for new retirees. About 80,000 people a week will now have to drive to field offices. The administration's website has repeatedly crashed, and the agency's own website puts the average phone wait time at about four hours. "They've already pushed service to people back, nationally, to a pretty horrifying extent. And it's probably going to get worse in the next couple of months," said Michael Astrue, who served as commissioner of the Social Security Administration under former Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. "I'm getting calls now all the time, from people that can't get through on the telephone, from people that can't get appointments in the field offices. And it will, in some cases, delay benefits," Astrue shared. "This is a very tough thing for millions of Americans." Referencing arguments by President Trump and Musk that prioritize trimming so-called "waste" at federal agencies like the Social Security Administration, Astrue said the idea of such excess on staff is "just not true" and added, "there is no data to support that claim." "In fact, what experts worry about is not fraud, which the agency itself estimates is below one one-hundredth of a percent of its payouts," he continued. "It's the Social Security time bomb." President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Social Security program in 1935, during the Great Depression, as a safety net to keep Americans out of poverty. Speaking about the initiative around the time of its inception, FDR told Americans that the measure would provide "at least some protection to 50 million of our citizens." Roosevelt enacted a program where the government takes a piece out of every working American's paycheck and pays it to people reaching retirement age. Today, those checks average about $2,000 a month, and they're the primary source of income for 40% of older Americans. "If Social Security were not here, you'd have about 22 million Americans who would be considered poor under the federal standards," said Astrue. "Some of them have no other income." For years, this all worked pretty well. Social Security became America's biggest government program; today, it pays $1.6 trillion to 73 million retired and disabled Americans. But, when World War II ended, the baby boom happened, and all those babies got older. Now, there were a lot more people getting money from the system — and fewer people paying in. And we started living longer. In FDR's day, the average age of death was 63. Now, it's 77, which is 14 more years of payments per person. "You will hear a lot of people saying there will be no Social Security for you. And that's, in all likelihood, not true," Astrue said. "If Congress does nothing, which you have to accept is a real possibility these days, they'll get about 80% of what they get now. And that will be a significant hit for a lot of Americans. We're looking at 2033, 2034, when the bottom will drop out." We've seen this moment coming for years, and all kinds of solutions have been kicked around. We could increase the tax a little. We could shrink the payments a little. We could delay the retirement age, now defined as 62. We could invest the money in the stock market instead of Treasury bills, but that's really risky. A market crash could wipe out the whole thing overnight. Today, you and your employer each contribute about 6% of your paycheck to Social Security, up to a point. There's no tax on anything you make over $176,000. The income line grows. So, here's another idea: Tax more of your earnings by raising that limit. Or even eliminate the limit. The taxable area grows. Astrue expects it'll be some combination of those ideas. "The likelihood is that Congress will panic right toward the deadline," he said. "There will be some cuts in benefits and there'll be some increase in taxation." That deadline is eight years away, but Astrue says that the more immediate problem is the indiscriminate cutting. "The way they're doing it, which is just, meat-axe cuts that are fairly random, is not the way. It's actually going to impair the agency's ability to make productive changes," said Astrue, who clarified that he is a Republican. "I voted for President Trump, so I'm all for change, but I'm all for intelligence change. And the people who are trying to drive this change don't understand the system. I don't think they care."
