Government Shutdown & Potential Firings - The report highlights the potential for mass firings of federal workers due to the government shutdown, initiated by the Trump administration [1] - The report emphasizes that there is no legal requirement to fire employees during a shutdown, and such dismissals have never occurred in the nation's history [2] Project 2025 & Russ Vought's Role - The report points out President Trump's apparent endorsement of Project 2025, despite previous claims of having no knowledge of it [3][4] - Russ Vought, described as "He of Project 2025 fame," is identified as a key figure in the shutdown, focusing on agencies and jobs for potential cuts [3][5] - The report suggests Vought has been planning to slash government spending for years, viewing it as a long-term goal [6][7] - Senator Mike Lee indicates that Vought has been preparing for this moment since puberty, aiming to empower Trump further [9] Potential Erosion of Checks and Balances - The report suggests that Vought's efforts are enabling Trump to exert authority more aggressively, potentially threatening the constitutional system's checks and balances [8]

I think if you go back to earlier this year, there was a lot of internal push back that Republican members of Congress, they wouldn't wouldn't stand for their pet projects or infrastructure projects in their districts not moving forward because a guy named Russ Vote decided that they weren't going to move forward. But look where we are today. Speaker Johnson took the microphone and I was intently listening and what did he say about this.He was very explicit saying that vote has to decide which services are ...

This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy. When President Trump came into office this year, Elon Musk was his chainsaw in charge of trimming the perceived fat of government through Doge. People voted for for major government reform and that's what people are going to get.But after months of heavy critique, protest and skydiving Tesla stocks, Musk stepped back. But while he was making noise out in the spotlight, Trump's main budget chief, the man who really holds super strings for the White House, quietly worked ...

The man in the middle of President Trump's shutdown strategy, budget chief Russell Vote, has, as the Wall Street Journal put it, been planning for this moment for years. Vote was OM director for part of President Trump's first term. And after the 2020 election, he spent the next four years as a key architect of Project 2025, developing a plan to rein in the size and spending of the federal government.And the shutdown has given him a key opportunity to put that plan into action. Joining me now, Atlantic staf ...

Let's now bring in New York Times chief Washington correspondent Carl Hulse, the editor of The New Republic, Michael Tamasi, and co-host of The Weeknight right here on MSNBC, Simone Sanders Towns. And a great group to start us off this hour. Carl, starting with you.Uh, President Trump is spelling it all out for us right on Truth Social this morning. Two posts of note. First, an all cap screed saying once again repeating the false talking point about Democrats wanting to give healthcare money to illegal alie ...

[Music] New analysis today of the fallout from Charlie Kirk's killing and how the public's reaction may say it all. >> The Kirk assassination this week has held up a mirror on our country right now and it's not a pretty picture. Right. The governor of Utah, Spencer Cox, just said on your air that he wonders whether or not this is the end of a dark period or another step toward an even darker period. and the reaction to what happened in the days after even the hours after the assassination indicates that it' ...

Paul Dans, former director of Project 2025, launched a Senate race against longtime incumbent Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., saying he wants to bring Project 2025’s controversial right-wing agenda to the Senate. (Photo: George Walker IV via Associated Press)https://t.co/tqVCyqgGXH https://t.co/kEoLXNWciW ...

Is Project 2025 Coming To The Senate? Ex-Director Challenges Lindsey Graham In South Carolinahttps://t.co/DcKVnZXuEX https://t.co/ecQhzbUUef ...

Legislation Impact - The bill is expected to disproportionately benefit the wealthy, increasing their wealth by 4%, while negatively impacting the poor by 4% [2] - States are convening special sessions to address the financial strain on healthcare, food assistance, housing, and education due to the bill [3] - Hospitals anticipate financial difficulties, and clinics are preparing for closures due to upcoming Medicaid cuts [3][4] - Educational institutions, such as community colleges, are considering enrollment reductions because of the impacts to PEL grants [4] - State food programs are concerned about the effects on seniors, veterans, low-income families, children, and public schools [4] - Some of the most damaging aspects of the bill are intentionally set to take effect after the election [5] Government Oversight and Corruption - Potential investigations into Donald Trump and his family are considered a priority, focusing on alleged selling of access to the White House [6][7] - Steven Miller's actions are also subject to scrutiny [7] - There are calls for investigations into Elon Musk's involvement with Doge [8] - The need to restore faith in government is emphasized, including addressing corruption in the executive branch, limiting big money in politics, and ethical reforms for the Supreme Court [9] Project 2025 and Doge - Doge's original mission under Elon Musk is failing, but its tools are allegedly being repurposed by individuals with a "dark political agenda" associated with Project 2025 [11][12] - Project 2025 is allegedly being used to reshape the federal government, potentially involving data hacking, funding cuts, and federal firings/freezes [11][12] - The firing of 1,300 State Department employees is cited as an example of this reshaping effort [13] Disaster Relief - The town of Ruidoso, New Mexico, experienced devastating flash floods, resulting in fatalities and significant damage to homes [14] - Despite preparations, Ruidoso requires ongoing federal assistance, with millions of dollars held up under FEMA and other programs [16][17] - Recovery from the disaster is expected to take years [18]

Political Strategy & Messaging - Democrats believe Trump's tax and spending bill, particularly Medicaid cuts, presents a winning message for the 2026 midterms [1] - The industry suggests Democrats should focus on clear communication about the bill's impact instead of social media trends [2][4] - There's a perception that Democrats aren't effectively addressing concerns about the bill, despite efforts like Hakeem Jeffries' speech [6][7] - The industry notes the need for a well-funded, intellectual foundation on the Democratic side, similar to Project 2025, to counter Republican initiatives [9][10] Policy & Impact Analysis - The analysis points out that many people are unaware of the specific details and implications of the bill, despite recognizing its negative aspects [5] - The report highlights concerns that the bill represents a wealth transfer from the poor to the rich and enables Trump to create a private army with ICE [5] - The industry suggests Medicaid work requirements are popular due to a lack of understanding about their complexities and potential negative consequences [18] - The report mentions that previous pilot programs showed people losing Medicaid due to administrative difficulties, despite being employed [18] Political Framing & Voter Perception - The analysis indicates Republicans may frame Democrats as paternalistic, while Democrats view government services as improving quality of life [14][15] - The industry observes that Republicans are effective at convincing their voters that policies that harm them are actually benevolent [16] - The report highlights a divide-and-conquer strategy, particularly targeting poor white voters against poor African-American and Latino voters [22]