Thursday, Dec. 5 | By Jonathan Easley
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Musk, Ramaswamy take DOGE to Capitol Hill
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TWO DISRUPTERS tapped by President-elect Trump to upend business-as-usual in Washington made the trek to Capitol Hill on Thursday to meet with congressional leaders. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the tech entrepreneurs Trump picked to lead an advisory team known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), laid out their vision to lawmakers in private meetings. The pair met with newly elected Senate GOP Leader John Thune (S.D.) and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to discuss regulatory cutbacks, administrative reductions and cost savings. Musk and Ramaswamy are polarizing figures on the left, but there are signs some Democrats are warming to their ideas on streamlining the government. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) praised Musk as a "smart guy" in an interview with Business Insider, saying he'd be open to working with him on how to curtail "waste and profiteering and fraud" in the Pentagon. Two House Democrats — Reps. Greg Landsman (Ohio) and Jared Moskowitz (Fla.) — have said they'll join the Congressional DOGE caucus. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) told The Hill's Emily Brooks he's thinking of joining. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), whose Santa Clara district encompasses Silicon Valley, posted on X that he's "ready to work" with DOGE and its leaders "to slash waste," citing Defense spending in particular. |
SKEPTICISM, UNCERTAIN FUTURE |
Not all Democrats are on board. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) told CNN that DOGE is "unconstitutional and illegal." "They haven't asked to meet with me, but the impoundment of funds that have been appropriated by the Congress is unconstitutional and illegal," she said. "There is no such Department of Government Efficiency. It's made up. So good luck to 'em." DOGE does not have the power to implement its changes without going through the White House or Congress, but Musk and Ramaswamy will have the ear of Trump and GOP leaders as they seek to implement their changes. The Hill's Miranda Nazzaro reports there are growing fears that Musk will broadly use his political influence to punish industry competitors or critics. And even Republicans acknowledge there will be tough battles ahead and potential pushback from some in the GOP. "I think there probably will be some friction," said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). "Some appropriators really want to continue funding." Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) will chair the Senate DOGE caucus, while several dozen House Republicans have already joined the lower chamber's caucus. Greene will chair a subcommittee related to DOGE. |
Big Tech entrepreneurs have Washington buzzing about major changes to the status quo. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos said he'd be open to partnering with the Trump administration to cut red tape. "I'm actually very optimistic this time around," he said at The New York Times DealBook Summit. "He seems to have a lot of energy around reducing regulation. If I can help do that, I'm going to help him." Trump's pick for Securities and Exchange Commission chairman, Paul Atkins, is a big proponent of cryptocurrencies. After Trump announced Atkins's nomination Wednesday, the price of Bitcoin surged to $100,000. Trump took credit for the spike on social media, saying "you're welcome." |
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Shouting match erupts at hearing with Secret Service chief
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A shouting match erupted at a House hearing Thursday between Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe and a Republican congressman. Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) asked Rowe about security planning ahead of a 9/11 memorial held at ground zero on Sept. 11 of this year. Fallon suggested it was inappropriate Rowe attended the event as a dignitary, because it might have bumped some agents off of President-elect Trump's protective detail. "Do not invoke 9/11 for political purposes," Rowe shouted. "Don't try and bully me," Fallon responded. Fallon later accused Rowe of waiting several days to meet with agents and visit the site of the first assassination attempt against Trump in Butler, Pa. The GOP lawmaker said he wants Rowe "gone." During the hearing, the acting Secret Service head acknowledged his agency's "abject failure" in protecting Trump from the July shooting. "It is essential that we recognize the gravity of our failure on July 13, 2024," Rowe said. "I personally carry the weight of knowing that we almost lost a protectee and that our failure cost a father and husband his life. This entire incident represents the failure to meet the expectations and responsibilities of the Secret Service." |
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Hegseth clings to nomination
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Pete Hegseth's nomination to become Trump's Defense secretary is hanging by a thread, The Hill's Alexander Bolton reports, with Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) seen as skeptical. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who met with Hegseth on Wednesday, remains noncommittal. "I did have a very long, lengthy discussion with Pete yesterday, and I do appreciate his service to the nation," she told Fox News Channel's Bill Hemmer. "I also am a combat veteran so we talked about a number of those issues and we will continue with the vetting process. I think that is incredibly important." Hemmer responded, saying it "doesn't sound in your answer that you got to a yes." "I think you are right," Ernst replied. With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority in the Senate, Hegseth can only afford three GOP defections if all Democrats vote against him. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said he's talked to several Republican senators who are "waiting for the right moment" to reject Hegseth's nomination to lead the Pentagon. Hegseth has faced blowback over reports of heavy drinking and sexual misconduct in the work place. Hegseth denies the allegations, although he's promised GOP senators that he will stop drinking alcohol if he's confirmed. Trump is reportedly considering alternatives. Republicans are pointing out that all of the allegations are coming from anonymous sources in the press. No accusers have put their names on the record. "I'm not going to make any decision based on an anonymous source," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). "If you're not willing to raise your hand and make the accusation, it doesn't count. I've heard everything about all these people. None of it counts, no rumors." |
12 days until electors vote in their states. 15 days until the government funding deadline. 29 days until the new Congress begins and the House leadership elections. 32 days until Congress counts the electoral votes. 46 days until Inauguration Day. |
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Dems debate additional pardons
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President Biden's controversial pardon of his son Hunter Biden has opened up a larger debate among Democrats about clemency. Politico reports that Biden's inner circle at the White House is discussing the possibility of blanket pardons for polarizing figures they fear could be prosecuted by the incoming Trump administration. Those names include Sen.-elect Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Biden's former chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci. Democrats are alarmed by Trump's pick to lead the FBI, Kash Patel, the MAGA firebrand who has promised retribution against those he believes have unfairly targeted Trump with investigations and prosecutions. Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) called on Biden to issue blanket pardons to potential targets. "These patriots shouldn't have to live in fear of political retribution for doing what's right," Boyle said. Republicans argue that only Democrats have been prosecuting their political enemies and that Trump did not go after critics in his first term. Former President Clinton said at The New York Times Dealbook Summit that both parties should cool it. "I do think we should stop trying to criminalize politics. Both of us." Democrats are also urging Biden to grant clemency to a range of other incarcerated individuals, including death row inmates, nonviolent offenders and Trump. |
💡Perspectives: • MSNBC: Joe Biden chose fatherly love over his duties as president. • The Hill: How Democrats can reengage. • Salon: Democrats need to take the working class seriously and literally. |
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