Bobby Allen

Now, President Trump said Musk is acting only with the explicit approval of the White House and that, quote, where we think there's a conflict or a problem, we won't let him go near it. That's what Trump said recently. But experts I spoke to aren't so sure. Richard Painter was the White House's top ethics lawyer in the George W. Bush administration.

Now, President Trump said Musk is acting only with the explicit approval of the White House and that, quote, where we think there's a conflict or a problem, we won't let him go near it. That's what Trump said recently. But experts I spoke to aren't so sure. Richard Painter was the White House's top ethics lawyer in the George W. Bush administration.

And Painter says the level of access Musk seems to have sure does look like there are very few checks on him.

And Painter says the level of access Musk seems to have sure does look like there are very few checks on him.

And Painter says the level of access Musk seems to have sure does look like there are very few checks on him.

So unprecedented is a word very much overused in this political moment. But Painter says Doge is indeed charting new territory.

So unprecedented is a word very much overused in this political moment. But Painter says Doge is indeed charting new territory.

So unprecedented is a word very much overused in this political moment. But Painter says Doge is indeed charting new territory.

Yes, Doge has been hit with multiple lawsuits over its legality. The most recent one came yesterday. Unions representing federal employees sued to block Doge's access to the Treasury Department's payment system.

Yes, Doge has been hit with multiple lawsuits over its legality. The most recent one came yesterday. Unions representing federal employees sued to block Doge's access to the Treasury Department's payment system.

Yes, Doge has been hit with multiple lawsuits over its legality. The most recent one came yesterday. Unions representing federal employees sued to block Doge's access to the Treasury Department's payment system.

They're concerned about Musk and his deputies having direct access to millions of people's tax refunds, veterans' benefits, disability checks, and the private information of federal employees. So we will see, Steve, what happens in court, but... Experts tell me that unless a judge steps in, Doge is expected to only grow its presence inside of the federal government.

They're concerned about Musk and his deputies having direct access to millions of people's tax refunds, veterans' benefits, disability checks, and the private information of federal employees. So we will see, Steve, what happens in court, but... Experts tell me that unless a judge steps in, Doge is expected to only grow its presence inside of the federal government.

They're concerned about Musk and his deputies having direct access to millions of people's tax refunds, veterans' benefits, disability checks, and the private information of federal employees. So we will see, Steve, what happens in court, but... Experts tell me that unless a judge steps in, Doge is expected to only grow its presence inside of the federal government.

Yeah, for some of the agencies in Doge's crosshairs, you know, their opening bid is to completely dismantle the agencies, right? But what may end up happening in the end is just a smaller version of the agencies that Doge is going after. So fewer employees and fewer resources, but still existing in some form. We'll just have to see. NPR's Bobby Allen, thanks so much. Thanks, Steve.

Yeah, for some of the agencies in Doge's crosshairs, you know, their opening bid is to completely dismantle the agencies, right? But what may end up happening in the end is just a smaller version of the agencies that Doge is going after. So fewer employees and fewer resources, but still existing in some form. We'll just have to see. NPR's Bobby Allen, thanks so much. Thanks, Steve.

Yeah, for some of the agencies in Doge's crosshairs, you know, their opening bid is to completely dismantle the agencies, right? But what may end up happening in the end is just a smaller version of the agencies that Doge is going after. So fewer employees and fewer resources, but still existing in some form. We'll just have to see. NPR's Bobby Allen, thanks so much. Thanks, Steve.

The court decided that the national security concerns that Congress established about TikTok are indeed the paramount concern here. And I want to quote sort of the crux of the matter here, which was an opinion. It was unsigned by the court.

The court decided that the national security concerns that Congress established about TikTok are indeed the paramount concern here. And I want to quote sort of the crux of the matter here, which was an opinion. It was unsigned by the court.

The court decided that the national security concerns that Congress established about TikTok are indeed the paramount concern here. And I want to quote sort of the crux of the matter here, which was an opinion. It was unsigned by the court.