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On this episode, The Washington Post’s Libby Casey and JM Rieger are joined by metro reporter Emily Davies and White House correspondent Michael Birnbaum to discuss the escalating rhetoric used by President Donald Trump and his administration, calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “a dictator without elections,” while also meeting with Russia delegates for peace talks, notably without Ukrainian involvement.Elon Musk’s U.S. DOGE Service, and The Trump administration also continued to cut federal workforce jobs across the country, targeting probationary employees, and sometimes citing ‘performance’ issues without evidence.Meanwhile, Trump threatened to ‘take over’ governance of Washington D.C., reversing its current home rule status, claiming local leaders are not doing enough on crime, cleaning up graffiti, and removing homeless encampments.

Jacob Bogage, a Congressional economics correspondent for The Washington Post, dives into the intriguing world of personal finance data access. He discusses Elon Musk's DOGE team's attempts to access the IRS's highly secure systems, raising alarms among government officials. The conversation touches on the absurd implications of 'vampire claims', pointless layoffs amid IRS funding challenges, and the chaos ensuing from rapid tech integration in government. The complexities of protecting sensitive data while grappling with misinformation also take center stage.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and JM Rieger sit down with media reporter Jeremy Barr to break down the Trump administration's recent spats with the media – from barring The Associated Press from Oval Office events, to removing media organizations from workspaces at the Pentagon. Plus, Trump settles with Facebook and Twitter, and demands a $20 billion settlement from CBS.Then, are Republican senators ceding all of their power to Trump and the executive branch? And why was Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) – until recently his caucus' leader – alone in his opposition to several of Trump's cabinet nominees?

The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down the pushback to President Trump and Elon Musk's attempts to drastically downsize the federal government – from what Congress is or isn't doing, on both sides of the aisle, to lawsuits and federal judges who have started to put some of Trump's efforts on hold.And is the GOP's rhetoric about the judiciary getting dangerous?Plus, Washington Post Investigations Editor David Fallis joins the show to discuss how listeners can share tips with Post reporters in secure ways.

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down the buyout offer made to federal workers as Elon Musk's DOGE continues to try to downsize government: What is the offer, is it legal, and what are union leaders saying? Plus, some breaking news on the deadline for employees to decide whether to take it.Then, how will cutting employees and programs affect Americans – and people around the world?Finally, The Post's Anna Liss-Roy joins the show to share what federal workers told her at protests outside the Office of Personnel Management.

The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down the big story in Washington this week: The Trump administration's efforts to downsize the federal government, led by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency. Is Musk allowed to access Americans' sensitive data, and eliminate government programs he doesn't like?Plus, what effect will Musk's efforts have on the federal workforce – and how will cutting programs affect Americans and people around the world?

On this episode, The Washington Post's Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann break down President Trump's news conference after the Washington, D.C. plane crash – and how Trump chose to blame his predecessors, Democrats and diversity programs rather than embracing the role of consoler-in-chief. Plus, three of Trump's most controversial cabinet nominees had Senate confirmation hearings on the same day: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard. The crew breaks down their hearings, and whether all three will end up being confirmed.

The Washington Post's Rhonda Colvin and James Hohmann are joined by White House reporter Cat Zakrzewski to discuss President Trump's first week back in office – and what happened the night he decided to fire more than a dozen government inspectors general.Plus, Trump's pause on government grants and loans is throwing Washington – and government programs around the globe – into chaos. Who will be affected by it most?And three of Trump's most controversial cabinet nominees are set to undergo Senate confirmation hearings later this week. Will RFK Jr. be derailed by a letter to senators penned by his cousin, Caroline Kennedy, calling him a "predator"?

The Washington Post's Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and JM Rieger are joined by immigration reporter Nick Miroff to break down the way President Trump is attempting to rapidly change the United States' immigration system – and create a culture of fear among undocumented immigrants.Plus, how is Trump quickly changing America's foreign policy – and what is he trying to accomplish by demolishing decades of affirmative action and diversity, equity and inclusion policies?

Libby Casey, Rhonda Colvin, James Hohmann and Aaron Blake break down President Trump's decision to pardon or commute the sentences of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol rioters, just hours after he was inaugurated for the second time.And Trump signed a whole lot of other executive orders; Which ones definitely matter, which ones might end up mattering, and which ones probably won't?Plus, the tech billionaires came to Washington – including Elon Musk.