Best Of: Growing Up Murdoch / DOGE's Cuts To The Federal Workforce
Mar 1, 2025
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McKay Coppins, staff writer for The Atlantic, dives into the tumultuous rivalry among Rupert Murdoch's children as they vie for control of the media empire, echoing a real-life version of 'Succession'. Elizabeth Linos, a Harvard public policy expert, discusses Elon Musk's bold strategies for downsizing the federal government and the significant implications for civil servants and essential services. Their conversation weaves through family dynamics and political maneuvering, showcasing the intersection of personal and corporate legacies.
The rivalry among Rupert Murdoch's children highlights complex family dynamics and ambition, paralleling themes from the series 'Succession'.
Elon Musk's drastic workforce reductions at DOGE reveal underlying tensions regarding public service effectiveness and employee morale.
The legal battles over the Murdoch trust underscore the impact of political influence on familial relationships and succession planning.
Deep dives
Family Rivalry Over Media Empire
The rivalry among Rupert Murdoch's children over the inheritance of his media empire is highlighted, showcasing intense family dynamics and the significant stakes involved. The legal battle primarily centers around the succession plan that favors Lachlan Murdoch, Rupert's eldest son, sidelining his younger brother, James. The tension between the brothers escalates due to differing political views and management styles, with James being more moderate and critical of Fox News' direction. This familial strife serves as a real-life parallel to the fictionalized tensions seen in the HBO series 'Succession', revealing the complexities of loyalty and ambition within the Murdoch clan.
The Impact of Trump on Fox News
The rise of Donald Trump has fundamentally altered the landscape of Fox News and the Murdoch family's involvement in political media. Initially, Rupert Murdoch was critical of Trump's candidacy, but as Trump's popularity soared, Fox News pivoted to support him vigorously. This shift was particularly disheartening for James Murdoch, who believed that his father's media outlets had no genuine ideological commitment, only a focus on profit and power. The endorsement of Trump's controversial policies further deepened the rift between James and Lachlan, illustrating how external political factors have compounded familial tensions.
Legal Battles and Trust Issues
The podcast delves into the contentious legal battles over the Murdoch family trust, which was originally designed to ensure equal control among Rupert's four children upon his death. Rupert Murdoch's clandestine moves to amend this trust in favor of Lachlan sparked outrage among James and their sisters, who felt betrayed by their father's actions. This legal confrontation forced James to testify in court, where he grappled with the emotional fallout of his family's fracturing relationships. The ruling in favor of James and his sisters temporarily halted Rupert's schemes but left unresolved questions about future attempts to manipulate family dynamics.
Controversial Moves by Elon Musk
Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has instigated significant changes within the federal workforce, sparking intense debate over the implications of such drastic measures. Musk’s approach has been criticized for dismissing thousands of federal employees and implementing controversial policies that undermine worker morale. An example of this was an email demanding federal workers report their achievements weekly, under the threat of resignation, which many interpret as a tactic to promote disillusionment among employees. This transformation raises questions about the long-term effects on public services and the capacity of government agencies to operate efficiently amidst such turmoil.
Future of Governance and Public Perception
The podcast reveals the larger ramifications of the current administration's efforts to reduce the federal workforce, highlighting concerns about public service quality and government effectiveness. With crucial departments facing significant cuts, the potential for diminished services and strained public trust emerges as a pressing issue. The narrative emphasizes that the federal workforce, often depicted as bloated, has remained stable in size over decades, countering the prevalent perception. The ongoing reform efforts under Musk’s direction may yield short-term chaos, but long-term consequences for democracy and civic engagement are likely to follow.
Atlantic staff writer McKay Coppins describes the rivalry among the children of 93 year-old media titan Rupert Murdoch over who will control his business empire when he dies. It's a real life Succession drama.
Also, we'll talk with Harvard Professor Elizabeth Linos about the extraordinary measures Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has taken to drastically shrink the size of the federal government, and the ripple effect.
Also, John Powers reviews the Oscar-nominated animated film Flow.
