Anna Helhoski

Well, it seems that, unfortunately, the CFPB is not going to get much done anytime soon. Shortly after Besant was appointed, he quickly halted operations at the agency, saying the CFPB needed to align its actions with the new administration.

Yeah, that's an understatement, Sean. After dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, and purging other departments, it looks like the U.S. Department of Education could be next.

Yeah, that's an understatement, Sean. After dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, and purging other departments, it looks like the U.S. Department of Education could be next.

Yeah, that's an understatement, Sean. After dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, and purging other departments, it looks like the U.S. Department of Education could be next.

And yet... And yet, Trump has long promised to get rid of the Education Department. And now there are reports that he may soon issue an executive order to dismantle it.

And yet... And yet, Trump has long promised to get rid of the Education Department. And now there are reports that he may soon issue an executive order to dismantle it.

And yet... And yet, Trump has long promised to get rid of the Education Department. And now there are reports that he may soon issue an executive order to dismantle it.

I mean, getting rid of the department entirely isn't up to a president. That power lies with Congress. Then again, Doge has shuttered USAID, so is it possible? Maybe. I would note that Doge has reportedly already gained access to internal ED systems, including people's financial aid information. So there's more personal information that Musk has access to.

I mean, getting rid of the department entirely isn't up to a president. That power lies with Congress. Then again, Doge has shuttered USAID, so is it possible? Maybe. I would note that Doge has reportedly already gained access to internal ED systems, including people's financial aid information. So there's more personal information that Musk has access to.

I mean, getting rid of the department entirely isn't up to a president. That power lies with Congress. Then again, Doge has shuttered USAID, so is it possible? Maybe. I would note that Doge has reportedly already gained access to internal ED systems, including people's financial aid information. So there's more personal information that Musk has access to.

Yeah, that's right. He could still fire more employees and divert department responsibilities, both financial and practical, to other federal agencies and probably to the states.

Yeah, that's right. He could still fire more employees and divert department responsibilities, both financial and practical, to other federal agencies and probably to the states.

Yeah, that's right. He could still fire more employees and divert department responsibilities, both financial and practical, to other federal agencies and probably to the states.

And I'm Anna Helhosky.

And I'm Anna Helhosky.

And I'm Anna Helhosky.

Only they're not just online anymore. They're on your phone. And if you think it can't happen to you because you're either too smart or too informed or too lucky, you're wrong. As has been proven time and time again when completely normal people have their life savings stripped away before they realize what's happening.

Only they're not just online anymore. They're on your phone. And if you think it can't happen to you because you're either too smart or too informed or too lucky, you're wrong. As has been proven time and time again when completely normal people have their life savings stripped away before they realize what's happening.

Only they're not just online anymore. They're on your phone. And if you think it can't happen to you because you're either too smart or too informed or too lucky, you're wrong. As has been proven time and time again when completely normal people have their life savings stripped away before they realize what's happening.

We're joined by the author, Michelle Singletary, a personal finance columnist for The Washington Post. Michelle, thanks for joining us. Oh, thank you for having me. We're talking about a seven-part series, so you should check out the entire thing. But Michelle, if you could give us a condensed version of how this scam played out.