Ross Douthat

Last controversy question, funding.

Trump administration, your administration, proposed substantial cuts to operationalize substantial cuts through DOGE, proposed substantial cuts in its budget.

Congress has resisted some of those cuts.

It's an ongoing debate.

But the administration that you're part of is formally on the side of spending less money on various forms of scientific research and public health.

Why?

Yeah.

I'm delighted because now is the opportunity.

Money helps.

You wouldn't say that it's the case that the big problem in public health is just too much wasteful spending.

Right.

Well, I think the money spent on DEI grants was probably wasteful.

Right, but that was not the vast majority of funding for public debt.

My job is to try to make those more productive.

And I'm delighted to have the opportunity to do that.

Okay.

Now that I've established your profound disagreement, at least with Elon Musk and possibly the Office of Management and Budget, and gotten you into deep trouble, I have succeeded completely.

And this leads to my final question, which I... Can I just... Yes, you can.

So, you know... Yeah, respect all around.

Um...