How Wired Magazine is Scooping the Competition. Plus, Whither the Democrats?

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Feb 8, 2025

Guest

Vittoria Elliot

In this conversation, Vittoria Elliott of WIRED shares her insights on how tech moguls like Elon Musk are reshaping federal agencies, revealing exclusive scoops on his controversial government maneuvers. Ryan J. Reilly discusses the Justice Department’s turbulent landscape post-January 6. Representative Don Beyer and Ezra Levin examine the Democrats' struggle for effective strategies in a hostile political climate, emphasizing the need for stronger communication and activism. Together, they dissect the intricate dance of power, ethics, and the future of governance.

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ANECDOTE

DOGE’s Access and Activities

Elon Musk's Doge task force accessed sensitive data at the Treasury and other agencies, raising concerns about data privacy and security.
A 25-year-old Doge engineer, Marco Elez, was given access to the Treasury's payment system code, but later resigned due to racist social media posts.

INSIGHT

Potential Legal and Protocol Violations

Doge operatives may have violated data privacy laws by accessing personal information of federal employees.
The lack of transparency surrounding Doge's operations raises concerns about potential legal and protocol breaches.

ANECDOTE

Security Concerns

Doge operatives often used non-government email addresses and personal computers, raising security concerns.
An external server was set up within OPM, and the use of personal devices introduces vulnerabilities.

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Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has accessed sensitive information at the treasury and gutted the United States Agency for International Development. On this week’s On the Media, how a tech magazine scooped mainstream outlets with its reporting on the DOGE taskforce. Plus, at the Department of Justice, data wipes and mass firings target records of January 6.

[01:00] Host Micah Loewinger sits down with Vittoria Elliott, reporter for WIRED covering platforms and power. This week WIRED has been covering Elon Musk’s rampage through the federal agencies, and has been the first to report on several key stories

[12:51] Micah speaks with Ryan J. Reilly, who covers the Justice Department and federal law enforcement for NBC News, about President Donald Trump’s campaign of retribution against those in the Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation who he feels unfairly targeted him and his followers.

[26:09] Host Brooke Gladstone sits down with Representative Don Beyer of Virginia to talk about Democrats' approach as President Trump challenges Congress’ power. Brooke also speaks with Ezra Levin, co-founder and co-executive director of the nonprofit Indivisible, about Democrats’ PR strategies, and the party’s resistance to using the Mitch McConnell playbook to push back against the G.O.P.