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This week, we discuss DOGE’s complicated story, why we do need to cut spending, and whether they’re being realistic about what that will take

Then, we talk about the Trump plan to dismantle the federal Department of Education 

After that, we talk about the European speech laws that are in the spotlight after a 60 Minutes segment and a speech from Vice President Vance

Finally, we head to Politicology+ where we’ll talk about Democrats job approval tanking—with Democrats—and what they should be doing as an opposition party and  to position themselves for the future

Joining Ron Steslow on this week’s panel: 

Billy Binion (Reporter at Reason)

Zack Czajkowski (Fmr. Lincoln Project Political Director)

James Lynch (Communications Strategist)  

Segments this week:

(03:03) DOGE 

(22:53) Department of Education 

(40:48) Free Speech in Europe 

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Send your questions and thoughts to podcast@politicology.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(202) 455-4558‬

Follow this week’s panel on X (formerly Twitter):

https://twitter.com/RonSteslow

https://x.com/JamesGLynch

https://x.com/ZackCz

https://x.com/billybinion

Related reading:

Segment 1: 

Reason - DOGE's complicated story

AP - A comprehensive look at DOGE's firings and layoffs so far | AP News

Axios - Musk says he'd look into DOGE stimulus checks

Segment 2: 

Reason - Kill the federal Department of Education

AP - Trump's pick for education chief sketches a roadmap for dismantling the department

Segment 3: 

FIRE - 60 Minutes and Vice President Vance put Europe’s worrying speech restrictions into the spotlight

CBS - Posting hateful speech online could lead to police raiding your home in this European country - CBS News

AP - JD Vance rails against 'excessive' AI regulation in a rebuke to Europe at the Paris AI summit | AP News

Lookaheads 

Reason - Hawaii Can Auction Off Your Car Without Ever Convicting You

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