What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future New DOGE, New Tricks
Jun 13, 2025
Makena Kelly, a Senior Writer at WIRED, discusses the future of Doge after Elon Musk's controversial exit. She delves into how Doge is evolving from a personal project to a crucial government tool amid leadership instability. The podcast reveals the challenges of integrating technology with governance, focusing on efficiency and transparency in operations. Kelly also explores the shifting relationship between Silicon Valley talent and government, raising questions about the implications for civil liberties and data privacy.
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Doge Becomes Institutionalized
- Doge is no longer Elon Musk's guerrilla project to slash government but is becoming institutionalized within agencies.
- The program is expected to persist for months or the entire administration, signaling permanence.
Doge Staff and Identity Blur
- Many original Doge engineers remain in government despite Elon Musk's departure.
- The exact number of Doge team members is unclear because the group blurs who is affiliated internally.
Post-Elon Rebuilding Under Vogt
- With Elon Musk gone, Doge's destructive phase is ending and rebuilding is beginning.
- Russell Vogt may lead efforts to reconstruct government systems aligned with conservative goals.