Rachel Abrams

Jonathan, you have covered Trump and those around him for years, obviously, and their biggest complaint, and you hear this almost every day from people like Stephen Miller, one of the president's top advisors, you profiled on the show last week, is that the federal government has become overrun by by unelected bureaucrats who are accountable to nobody. They don't face elections.

And in fact, even a few days ago, Elon Musk himself said it was time to, quote, restore power to the people from the vast unelected bureaucracy. But given everything you've laid out here for us, it feels like Musk and Doge have become arguably the most powerful unelected bureaucracy possibly in the history of the country.

And in fact, even a few days ago, Elon Musk himself said it was time to, quote, restore power to the people from the vast unelected bureaucracy. But given everything you've laid out here for us, it feels like Musk and Doge have become arguably the most powerful unelected bureaucracy possibly in the history of the country.

Jonathan, thank you very much.

Jonathan, thank you very much.

On Tuesday, Elon Musk and his team took aim at their latest federal agency, the Department of Education. Officials told employees that Doge was scrutinizing their operations, and they warned that it could lead to staff reductions. We'll be right back. Here's what else you need to know today.

On Tuesday, Elon Musk and his team took aim at their latest federal agency, the Department of Education. Officials told employees that Doge was scrutinizing their operations, and they warned that it could lead to staff reductions. We'll be right back. Here's what else you need to know today.

In a joint news conference on Tuesday night at the White House, President Trump said the United States would take over Gaza, permanently relocate two million of its Palestinian residents, and turn the enclave into, quote, the Riviera of the Middle East.

In a joint news conference on Tuesday night at the White House, President Trump said the United States would take over Gaza, permanently relocate two million of its Palestinian residents, and turn the enclave into, quote, the Riviera of the Middle East.

Trump said that developing Gaza would supply jobs and housing for, quote, the people of the area, a vague reference that aligns with the far-right coalition within Netanyahu's government, which wants to repopulate Gaza with Israelis. The statement was also striking because it contradicted decades of U.S. policy that has favored a two-state solution.

Trump said that developing Gaza would supply jobs and housing for, quote, the people of the area, a vague reference that aligns with the far-right coalition within Netanyahu's government, which wants to repopulate Gaza with Israelis. The statement was also striking because it contradicted decades of U.S. policy that has favored a two-state solution.

But just like statements the president has made about taking over Greenland and the Panama Canal, Trump did not cite any legal authority that would allow him to take Gaza over, nor did he address the fact that forcible removal of an entire population violates international law.

But just like statements the president has made about taking over Greenland and the Panama Canal, Trump did not cite any legal authority that would allow him to take Gaza over, nor did he address the fact that forcible removal of an entire population violates international law.

And on Tuesday, China responded to the 10 percent tariff imposed by Trump with a flurry of retaliatory measures, including tariffs of its own on liquefied natural gas, coal and farm machinery imported from the U.S. The back and forth demonstrated how quickly Trump's tariffs can escalate into a series of painful tit for tat economic reprisals.

And on Tuesday, China responded to the 10 percent tariff imposed by Trump with a flurry of retaliatory measures, including tariffs of its own on liquefied natural gas, coal and farm machinery imported from the U.S. The back and forth demonstrated how quickly Trump's tariffs can escalate into a series of painful tit for tat economic reprisals.

Today's episode was produced by Jessica Chung, Muj Zaydi, and Caitlin O'Keefe, with help from Shannon Lin. It was edited by Liz O'Balin, with help from Paige Cowett. Contains original music by Will Reed, Pat McCusker, Marion Lozano, and Dan Powell, and was engineered by Alyssa Moxley. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsberg of Wonderly. That's it for The Daily. I'm Rachel Abrams.

Today's episode was produced by Jessica Chung, Muj Zaydi, and Caitlin O'Keefe, with help from Shannon Lin. It was edited by Liz O'Balin, with help from Paige Cowett. Contains original music by Will Reed, Pat McCusker, Marion Lozano, and Dan Powell, and was engineered by Alyssa Moxley. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsberg of Wonderly. That's it for The Daily. I'm Rachel Abrams.

See you tomorrow.

See you tomorrow.