Musk draws first blood with spending bill bombshell
4 days, 18 hours ago

Musk draws first blood with spending bill bombshell

Live Mint  

WASHINGTON—With a 4:15 a.m. ET social-media post on Wednesday, Elon Musk declared that a must-do spending bill “should not pass." Maya MacGuineas, president of the bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said it wasn’t difficult to see why Musk and Ramaswamy would object to the spending proposal, saying it “circumvents the very principles of how we are supposed to govern, and I suspect most anyone would have to acknowledge it is a truly crummy bill." Even before the fight over the stopgap spending bill, DOGE officials expressed private concerns about whether lawmakers would “be able to walk the walk" when it comes to cutting spending in their home states. House members discussed creating a “DOGE score" for potential targets that would assess whether to cut or reduce federal programs based on ease and impact.

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History of this topic

Elon Musk brings his messy way of doing things to Washington
20 hours, 25 minutes ago

Elon Musk brings his messy way of doing things to Washington

Live Mint  

WASHINGTON—The first test of Elon Musk’s attempt to rein in Congress and its prolific spending threatened to shut down the government. In the immediate aftermath of Wednesday’s surprise collapse, Democrats began calling Musk the co-president—seemingly a coordinated jab aimed at sowing discord between Trump and Musk—while some Republicans suggested that Musk replace Johnson as speaker of the House. Until this …

Trump rejects taunts that Elon Musk is real power behind US president-elect
Trending News
2 days, 5 hours ago

Trump rejects taunts that Elon Musk is real power behind US president-elect

Al Jazeera  

Statements come amid criticism of Musk’s involvement in budget negotiations, outsized role in Trump transition. United States President-elect Donald Trump has pushed back on the notion that he has “ceded the presidency” to billionaire Elon Musk, who has taken an outsized role in the president-elect’s transition into the White House. “He wasn’t born in this country.” The South African-born Musk …

Government shutdown: It's Elon Musk's world, and we're just living in it.
2 days, 18 hours ago

Government shutdown: It's Elon Musk's world, and we're just living in it.

Slate  

This is Totally Normal Quote of the Day, a feature highlighting a statement from the news that exemplifies just how extremely normal everything has become. “This bill should not pass.” —Elon Musk writing on X about the stopgap government funding bill H.R. In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, as Congress was scheduled to pass a bipartisan spending bill that …

How a routine spending bill turned Washington upside down
2 days, 20 hours ago

How a routine spending bill turned Washington upside down

Live Mint  

WASHINGTON—There was much to celebrate when House Speaker Mike Johnson walked into Mar-a-Lago to meet with President-elect Donald Trump just after the November election. Attendees in the private box with the lawmakers said Trump and Musk didn’t voice major concerns about the pending spending package. Republican lawmakers contacted Musk and Ramaswamy to voice their own concerns about the original bill’s …

“Who is in charge?”: Top Democrats criticize Musk’s role in government shutdown drama
3 days, 5 hours ago

“Who is in charge?”: Top Democrats criticize Musk’s role in government shutdown drama

Salon  

Prominent Democrats lambasted Elon Musk’s influence on negotiations to avert this weekend’s potential government shutdown, questioning his behind-the-scenes role in shaping Republican strategy. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, said Musk’s involvement suggested he was “calling the shots for Trump and Republicans,” asking pointedly, “Who is in charge?” The criticism followed a turbulent week on Capitol …

Musk helped kill a congressional spending bill. But much of what he spread was misinformation
3 days, 8 hours ago

Musk helped kill a congressional spending bill. But much of what he spread was misinformation

Associated Press  

President-elect Donald Trump’s billionaire ally Elon Musk played a key role this week in killing a bipartisan funding proposal that would have prevented a government shutdown, railing against the plan in a torrent of more than 100 X posts that included multiple false claims. Now there’s a new social media bully in town, pushing the champion social media bully around.” …

'Hurts everyone': Finger-pointing takes over social media after spending bill implodes
4 days, 4 hours ago

'Hurts everyone': Finger-pointing takes over social media after spending bill implodes

Raw Story  

The spectacular implosion of the Donald Trump-backed temporary spending bill sent Washington insiders and political observers into a mad dash to explain their position – and in some cases criticize their own party. “The takeover is complete,” Condé Naste legal affairs editor Luke Zaleski posted to his social media feed after the failed vote Thursday. “Trump and Musk told congressional …

New spending bill to avert shutdown fails despite Trump and Musk's MAGA seal of approval
4 days, 5 hours ago

New spending bill to avert shutdown fails despite Trump and Musk's MAGA seal of approval

Raw Story  

An 11th-hour spending bill that would avert a holiday shutdown of the federal government failed to pass Thursday evening, a day before the current funding bill is set to expire. President-elect Donald Trump and close ally Elon Musk on Wednesday helped kill House Republicans' first attempt at a funding bill, which would've funded the government through mid-March. Trump, Musk and …

The picture that tells you everything you need to know about what DOGE will do to the federal government
4 days, 6 hours ago

The picture that tells you everything you need to know about what DOGE will do to the federal government

Daily Mail  

It appears Elon Musk's mandate from Donald Trump to eliminate the government bloat is already well underway. Speaker Mike Johnson scrambled to craft a last-minute spending bill to avoid a government shutdown after Trump and Musk tanked his initial plan. Musk posted a photo on X of the stack of pages in the legislation showing 'Yesterday's bill' versus 'today's bill' …

'It costs money!' Some Republicans push back at Musk's pressure to shut down government
4 days, 10 hours ago

'It costs money!' Some Republicans push back at Musk's pressure to shut down government

Raw Story  

WASHINGTON — Elon Musk’s dumb for a smart guy — at least according to Republicans questioning why the man promising to save the government trillions is on the glide path to costing it billions. “And then it costs money to open up the government.” Some Republicans on Capitol Hill fear Trump’s now following Musk’s lead — a move that has …

'President Musk' trends after Trump's top oligarch torpedoes federal spending deal
4 days, 11 hours ago

'President Musk' trends after Trump's top oligarch torpedoes federal spending deal

Raw Story  

Congress is careening toward a government shutdown after U.S. President-elect Trump, egged on by billionaire Elon Musk—who helped bankroll Trump's reelection campaign and is slated to help oversee cuts to government spending and regulation in the new administration—torpedoed a federal spending bill that would have kept the government open for the next few months. These sorts of remarks continued Thursday, …

Report shows Musk and Trump pushed GOP to kill the bill to keep government open
4 days, 18 hours ago

Report shows Musk and Trump pushed GOP to kill the bill to keep government open

Raw Story  

President-elect Donald Trump and Elon Musk have succeeded in getting House Republicans to kill what was expected to be an easily-passed continuing resolution that would keep the federal government open and avert a costly and confusing shutdown just days before Christmas. "And just like that," observed NBC News' Garret Haake, "we’re teetering on the edge of a government shutdown, as …

Trump, Musk wreak year-end havoc in Washington: Early signs of a volatile Trump 2.0?
5 days, 5 hours ago

Trump, Musk wreak year-end havoc in Washington: Early signs of a volatile Trump 2.0?

India Today  

US President-elect Donald Trump and billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk have apparently unleashed chaos at the Capitol, with the duo seeking to derail a short-term spending compromise crafted by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, according to a CNN report. This bill should not pass https://t.co/3y7rZ23K4Z — Elon Musk December 18, 2024 Musk's criticism prompted Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance …

GOP mulls killing stopgap funding bill after Musk sends 'shockwaves' through Capitol
5 days, 7 hours ago

GOP mulls killing stopgap funding bill after Musk sends 'shockwaves' through Capitol

Raw Story  

Lawmakers are considering killing a stopgap bill that would fund the federal government through mid-March — and avert a holiday shutdown — after an Elon Musk X post sent "shockwaves" through Capitol Hill. Chad Pergram, senior congressional correspondent for Fox News, reported on air that lawmakers may try to "pull this interim spending bill off the floor." "Here's what happened …

Who answers to who? Fox News demands Speaker Johnson defend spending bill to Elon Musk
Trending News
5 days, 11 hours ago

Who answers to who? Fox News demands Speaker Johnson defend spending bill to Elon Musk

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy House Speaker Mike Johnson found himself cornered live on Fox …

Elon Musk fueled backlash to spending plan with false and misleading claims
6 days, 5 hours ago

Elon Musk fueled backlash to spending plan with false and misleading claims

Politico  

Among the 100-plus tweets Musk sent as part of his campaign were a number of misleading or outright false claims — a possible preview of the mogul’s new role as co-leader of a Trump-blessed effort to slash government funding. We will be fine for 33 days.” Another Musk post said a shutdown “doesn’t actually shut down critical functions.” But while …

"This bill is a crime": Musk throws social media fit over stopgap government funding effort
6 days, 5 hours ago

"This bill is a crime": Musk throws social media fit over stopgap government funding effort

Salon  

Soon-to-be Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk can add another imaginary title to his resume: social media majority whip. Musk was tagged to join President-elect Donald Trump's administration alongside Vivek Ramaswamy, and the pair were given the ill-defined mandate to slash government spending. He posted more than 40 times to his social media app X on Wednesday, calling the …

"It’s clear who’s in charge": House GOP scraps funding bill after Trump, Musk tirades
6 days, 5 hours ago

"It’s clear who’s in charge": House GOP scraps funding bill after Trump, Musk tirades

Salon  

A proposed bill to fund the federal government beyond this Friday is dead in the water after it was objected to by President-elect Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk. "There's no new agreement right now," Scalise said, admitting that the original agreement was a no-go among House GOP hardliners. Scalise told CNN that "there's no new agreement right now" and …

"Call their bluff": Trump, Vance urge GOP lawmakers to vote down emergency government funding bill
6 days, 5 hours ago

"Call their bluff": Trump, Vance urge GOP lawmakers to vote down emergency government funding bill

Salon  

President-elect Donald Trump is urging members of his party to vote down a resolution that would fund the federal government into March. In a joint statement with Vice President-elect JD Vance shared by Vance on social media, the incoming executives said that Republican legislators should "call bluff" of congressional Democrats and push for a new resolution that doesn't include spending …

Trump news: One surprising thing Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy could actually do to cut government spending.
1 week, 6 days ago

Trump news: One surprising thing Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy could actually do to cut government spending.

Slate  

Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. If Musk and Ramaswamy are serious about cutting government spending, they should start with the tax code. This spending—disguised as deductions, exemptions, and tax credits—tends to favor the wealthy in ways that would likely never be approved if proposed …

Rand Paul: 'You don't get close' to Musk's spending cut goals without key social programs
2 weeks, 3 days ago

Rand Paul: 'You don't get close' to Musk's spending cut goals without key social programs

Raw Story  

Sen. Rand Paul said Friday evening on Fox News what many have thought: President-elect Donald Trump's initiative for massive government spending cuts must go after major social programs to work. Proposing cuts to Social Security and Medicare, America's flagship basic income and health insurance programs for retirees, is generally considered a third rail in American politics. But Paul is likely …

Musk and Ramaswamy's DOGE echoes past budget promises that faced big hurdles
2 weeks, 3 days ago

Musk and Ramaswamy's DOGE echoes past budget promises that faced big hurdles

NPR  

Musk and Ramaswamy's DOGE echoes past budget promises that faced big hurdles toggle caption Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy test drove their new Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, on Capitol Hill this week, visiting House and Senate Republicans, who celebrated their promise of reduced government and dramatically lower federal spending. Even the Senate Budget …

There’s a rude awakening in store for the DOGE bros
2 weeks, 4 days ago

There’s a rude awakening in store for the DOGE bros

CNN  

A version of this story appeared in CNN Business’ Nightcap newsletter. Much like President-elect Donald Trump’s “Department of Government Efficiency,” the advisory board led by entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the Grace Commission had no authority to implement changes, only to advise. “You can’t find any evidence that they changed the growth of the government one iota,” Douglas Holtz-Eakin, …

Elon Musk Meets With Lawmakers About ‘DOGE’ Crusade Against Government Spending
Trending News
2 weeks, 4 days ago

Elon Musk Meets With Lawmakers About ‘DOGE’ Crusade Against Government Spending

Huff Post  

Elon Musk, from left, carries his son X Æ A-Xii, joined by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., and Vivek Ramaswamy, as they convene a meeting of President-elect Donald Trump's planned Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, at the Capitol on Thursday. WASHINGTON — Tech entrepreneurs Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy came to Capitol Hill Thursday to join Republicans …

'Disaster': Senior Republican aide predicts what will get Elon Musk 'bounced by Trump'
2 weeks, 4 days ago

'Disaster': Senior Republican aide predicts what will get Elon Musk 'bounced by Trump'

Raw Story  

X CEO Elon Musk is scheduled to meet with congressional Republicans to pitch his drastic budget-cutting plans, and it's already causing concern for some on Capitol Hill. An unnamed Republican Senate aide who spoke with Punchbowl News' Jake Sherman on Thursday predicted that Musk and fellow Department of Government Efficiency leader Vivek Ramaswamy would create massive political headaches for Republicans …

GOP lawmakers try to draft DOGE leaders to their side of the spending war
2 weeks, 5 days ago

GOP lawmakers try to draft DOGE leaders to their side of the spending war

Politico  

“They’re just gonna have to shame my colleagues into cutting spending,” Massie said of Musk and Ramaswamy. Roy said he told the duo during the GOP’s widely attended meeting Thursday afternoon that “you’re looking for the problem, and the problem’s in that room.” “They’re just gonna have to shame my colleagues into cutting spending.” Rep. Thomas Massie said of Musk …

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy take their DOGE government efficiency pitch to the Hill
2 weeks, 6 days ago

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy take their DOGE government efficiency pitch to the Hill

NPR  

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy take their DOGE government efficiency pitch to the Hill toggle caption Brandon Bell/Pool via AP Tech billionaire Elon Musk and former Republican presidential primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy head to Capitol Hill on Thursday to present their ideas for President-elect Donald Trump's "Department of Government Efficiency," or DOGE. House Speaker Mike Johnson posted on X, Musk's …

Musk’s DOGE plans rely on White House budget office. Conflicts await.
3 weeks, 4 days ago

Musk’s DOGE plans rely on White House budget office. Conflicts await.

Live Mint  

Elon Musk’s influence over federal spending will flow through a White House budget office that helps develop regulations that affect his business empire. Musk and Ramaswamy have said the organization will work closely with the White House Office of Management and Budget, which analyzes federal spending and guides implementation of regulations. Musk and Ramaswamy encouraged Trump to reappoint as OMB …

Elon Musk’s budget crusade could cause a constitutional clash in Trump’s second term
1 month ago

Elon Musk’s budget crusade could cause a constitutional clash in Trump’s second term

LA Times  

President-elect Donald Trump walks with Elon Musk before the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket last week in Boca Chica, Texas. Now is the moment for decisive action.” Trump has already suggested taking such a big step, saying last year that he would “use the president’s long-recognized impoundment power to squeeze the bloated federal bureaucracy …

Experts: DOGE scheme doomed because of Musk and Ramaswamy's "meme-level understanding" of spending
1 month ago

Experts: DOGE scheme doomed because of Musk and Ramaswamy's "meme-level understanding" of spending

Salon  

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the billionaires President-elect Donald Trump picked to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency, have made their aspirations of slashing government spending clear, promising to bring a "chainsaw" to federal bureaucracy and costs. "For anything the federal government is spending, there's going to be an appropriation," Reich told Salon in a phone interview. In their …

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s ‘budget cuts’ could spark constitutional clash in Trump presidency: Report
1 month ago

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s ‘budget cuts’ could spark constitutional clash in Trump presidency: Report

Live Mint  

When Elon Musk first proposed a new initiative to reduce the size of government, Donald Trump didn’t seem to take it seriously. His eventual name for the idea But now that Trump has won the election, Musk's fantasy is becoming reality, with the potential to spark a constitutional clash over the balance of power in Washington, reported AP, citing Elon …

Elon Musk’s budget crusade could cause a constitutional clash in Trump’s second term
1 month ago

Elon Musk’s budget crusade could cause a constitutional clash in Trump’s second term

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — When Elon Musk first suggested a new effort to cut the size of government, Donald Trump didn’t seem to take it seriously. Now is the moment for decisive action.” Trump has already suggested taking such a big step, saying last year that he would “use the president’s long-recognized impoundment power to squeeze the bloated federal bureaucracy for massive …

Elon Musk to 'gameify' DOGE, create leaderboard for ‘insanely dumb’ spending of US tax dollars
1 month, 1 week ago

Elon Musk to 'gameify' DOGE, create leaderboard for ‘insanely dumb’ spending of US tax dollars

Firstpost  

Despite the playful acronym and meme-ready name, the mission is ambitious: combat government waste, fraud, and abuse, and make it an engaging public spectacle. Musk seems determined to ensure that this effort isn’t just impactful but also entertaining While DOGE sounds like a new department, it technically won’t be an official federal agency, as only Congress can establish those. Image …

Elon Musk’s ‘crazy’ plan to rip $2 trillion out of America
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Elon Musk’s ‘crazy’ plan to rip $2 trillion out of America

The Telegraph  

Dressed all in black, Elon Musk let out a roar. At last week’s Madison Square Garden rally, the billionaire pointed to his black “Make America Great Again” cap proclaiming: “I am dark, gothic Maga.” Once a self-described “socialist”, Musk has emerged as one of Donald Trump’s most prominent and strident supporters in the final few weeks of the US election …

Musk's Spending Cuts Plan: A Call for Fiscal Responsibility
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Musk's Spending Cuts Plan: A Call for Fiscal Responsibility

Live Mint  

Elon Musk outlines his plans to reduce federal spending if Donald Trump is re-elected. Musk proposes drastic budget cuts, aiming to eliminate $2 trillion from the budget and ensure long-term economic prosperity. He emphasizes the need for fiscal responsibility and believes that everyone will have to take a haircut to achieve this goal.

Elon Musk Says Trump Will Bring 'Temporary Hardship' For Americans
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Elon Musk Says Trump Will Bring 'Temporary Hardship' For Americans

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING Former President Donald Trump’s biggest financial backer and top campaign surrogate, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, says he and Trump plan to inflict “temporary hardship” on American citizens if the Republican nominee wins the White House in November. Musk, the tech billionaire who has spent more than $130 million backing Trump and regularly spreads racist conspiracy theories about …

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