Cabot Phillips

Get us up to speed. Yeah, shortly after President Trump's victory, House Republicans announced the formation of a new committee that would partner with the Department of Government Efficiency to, quote, identify and investigate the waste, corruption, and useless parts of our federal government.

Get us up to speed. Yeah, shortly after President Trump's victory, House Republicans announced the formation of a new committee that would partner with the Department of Government Efficiency to, quote, identify and investigate the waste, corruption, and useless parts of our federal government.

Think of the committee as the congressional arm of Musk's Doge Department, which isn't technically a government agency. On Wednesday, the Doge committee held their inaugural hearing, which Chair Marjorie Taylor Greene said marked the launch of their war on waste. In her opening statement, Greene made the case for Doge, highlighting America's $36 trillion debt crisis.

Think of the committee as the congressional arm of Musk's Doge Department, which isn't technically a government agency. On Wednesday, the Doge committee held their inaugural hearing, which Chair Marjorie Taylor Greene said marked the launch of their war on waste. In her opening statement, Greene made the case for Doge, highlighting America's $36 trillion debt crisis.

Throughout the afternoon, Republicans called witnesses to give details on the scope of government fraud and abuse. For example, here's Heywood Talco, the CEO of LexisNexis, talking about how much money could be saved by implementing new identity verification technology.

Throughout the afternoon, Republicans called witnesses to give details on the scope of government fraud and abuse. For example, here's Heywood Talco, the CEO of LexisNexis, talking about how much money could be saved by implementing new identity verification technology.

Now, the hearing was originally intended to focus on ways for both parties to work together and cut government waste. But it quickly devolved into a debate over Elon Musk. Democrat after Democrat used their time to slam Musk, saying he was an unelected bureaucrat who was just using his newfound power to enrich himself and other billionaires.

Now, the hearing was originally intended to focus on ways for both parties to work together and cut government waste. But it quickly devolved into a debate over Elon Musk. Democrat after Democrat used their time to slam Musk, saying he was an unelected bureaucrat who was just using his newfound power to enrich himself and other billionaires.

For example, here's Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett.

For example, here's Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett.

And then there was Democratic rep Robert Garcia, who said he would display a D pick. I'll let you fill in what he stands for. He then held up a large poster board of Elon Musk's face. Yes, you heard that right.

And then there was Democratic rep Robert Garcia, who said he would display a D pick. I'll let you fill in what he stands for. He then held up a large poster board of Elon Musk's face. Yes, you heard that right.

So for context there, Garcia is referring to the Hunter Biden investigation when Marjorie Taylor Greene displayed graphic photos of the president's son engaging in drug use and other illegal activity with prostitutes.

So for context there, Garcia is referring to the Hunter Biden investigation when Marjorie Taylor Greene displayed graphic photos of the president's son engaging in drug use and other illegal activity with prostitutes.

For their part, Republicans pushed back on criticism of Musk, saying Democrats had no problem with, quote, unelected bureaucrats having power when that power was being used for other purposes.

For their part, Republicans pushed back on criticism of Musk, saying Democrats had no problem with, quote, unelected bureaucrats having power when that power was being used for other purposes.

Yeah, when Doge was first announced, there were some who thought it would be more of a symbolic gesture. But it's abundantly clear now that President Trump is serious about empowering Musk to treat the federal government like a business and root out waste.

Yeah, when Doge was first announced, there were some who thought it would be more of a symbolic gesture. But it's abundantly clear now that President Trump is serious about empowering Musk to treat the federal government like a business and root out waste.

At that point, the two met in the Oval Office this week, where Trump signed a new executive order that will force federal agencies to comply with Doge's efforts to cut their existing workforces and limit the number of future hires. Specifically, the order says that federal agencies may only hire one new employee for every four who are going out the door.

At that point, the two met in the Oval Office this week, where Trump signed a new executive order that will force federal agencies to comply with Doge's efforts to cut their existing workforces and limit the number of future hires. Specifically, the order says that federal agencies may only hire one new employee for every four who are going out the door.