Deadline: White House Episode: “Not Going Quietly” Release Date: June 5, 2025

Host: Nicolle Wallace, MSNBC

I. Trump and Elon Musk Feud Intensifies

The episode kicks off with a heated exchange between former President Donald Trump and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. The once-strong alliance between the two has rapidly deteriorated, with both parties lashing out publicly.

• Host Nicolle Wallace (00:53): "The alliance between the world's richest man and the world's most powerful Donald Trump is imploding right now, in real time..."

• Elon Musk (01:58): Criticizes Trump's domestic policy, particularly the EV mandate, stating, "Elon knew the inner workings of this bill better than almost anybody sitting here..."

• Donald Trump (02:11): Responds defensively, "Me personally, but I'm sure that'll be next."

Wallace emphasizes the public nature of their feud, highlighting Musk's accusations linking Trump to the Epstein files and Trump's threats to cancel Musk's contracts. This conflict is seen as a window into the corruption and superficial alliances within American politics.

II. Impact on Political Landscape and Public Perception

The feud between Trump and Musk serves as a microcosm of deeper issues within American politics.

• Teddy Schleifer (04:48): Notes the significant backlash from Musk's claims about Trump and the potential for escalating tensions.

• Angelo Carusone (07:12): Discusses the toxic masculinity driving the conflict, comparing the individuals to WWE stars unable to separate character from reality.

• Mara Gay (14:48): Reflects on the consolidation of power in the hands of a few individuals, leading to national and global instability.

Notable Quote:

• Angelo Carusone (13:51): "This is an unusual position for Elon Musk right now where the fear might be that he is a man without a country and the Tesla is a company without a country."

III. Economic Policies and the "Everyone's Going to Die Bill"

The discussion shifts to the controversial economic bill passed by House Republicans, dubbed by some as the "Everyone's Going to Die Bill."

• Host Nicolle Wallace (37:08): Argues that Republicans are ignoring expert analyses from nonpartisan organizations like the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which predict significant deficits and minimal economic growth from the bill.

• Courtney Brown (40:34): Highlights the consensus among economists that the bill will exacerbate the national deficit without delivering promised growth.

Notable Quotes:

• Host Nicolle Wallace (37:08): "Republicans have clearly adopted the strategy of do not trust the experts when it comes to the actual cost of their massive tax and spending bill."

• Courtney Brown (40:34): "Most economists... have concluded that the bill could exacerbate the nation's fiscal imbalance while contributing less in economic growth."

IV. Immigration Policies and Judicial Rulings

A significant portion of the episode focuses on the Trump administration's aggressive immigration policies and a landmark judicial ruling demanding due process for deported individuals.

• Judge Boasberg's Ruling (50:24): Orders the White House to facilitate legal proceedings for 140 Venezuelan immigrants deported to El Salvador, asserting their constitutional right to due process.

• Alan Orr (53:51): Emphasizes the government's mishandling of the deportations and the necessity for proper legal remedies.

• Host Nicolle Wallace (57:11): Criticizes Secretary Kristi Noem's lack of understanding of habeas corpus, directly challenging Trump’s administration's approach.

Notable Quotes:

• Judge Boasberg (57:39): "There is simply no way to know for sure as the CBO plaintiffs never had any opportunity to challenge the government..."

• Donald Trump (60:36): "I don't know if the Constitution is my thing... but we need to insist that others are not."

V. Reinstatement of the Travel Ban and National Security Concerns

Trump announces a new executive order reinstating a travel ban targeting a dozen countries, citing national security concerns following the Boulder, Colorado terror attack.

• Elon Musk (72:13): Criticizes the travel ban's effectiveness, pointing out inconsistencies such as the exclusion of Egypt, the country of the Boulder attacker.

• Host Nicolle Wallace (76:05): Highlights the negligible statistical risk posed by the banned countries, quoting a Cato Institute analysis (71:28).

Notable Quotes:

• Elon Musk (72:13): "There aren't a lot of terrorists in Chad or any of the other 19 countries saying... they perpetrate an act of terror. That's not a thing."

• Host Nicolle Wallace (71:28): "The annual chance of being murdered by a terrorist from one of the banned countries... was about 1 in 13.9 billion per year."

VI. Climate Research Cuts and Impact on Hurricane Forecasting

The administration's reduction in funding for climate research and NOAA's hurricane forecasting capabilities is scrutinized, highlighting potential dangers for Florida.

• Meteorologist John Morales (85:01): Warns of degraded weather forecasting quality and potential inability to predict hurricanes accurately due to funding cuts.

• Andy Hazelton (88:02): Discusses the long-term implications of underfunded climate research, leading to stagnant or worsening forecast accuracy.

Notable Quotes:

• John Morales (85:01): "It's not every day that it's our local TV weather people telling us that they can no longer do their job accurately."

• Angelo Carusone (88:15): "We just want to keep that... and have people know that."

VII. Political Shifts and Upcoming Elections

The episode concludes with discussions on political realignments and upcoming elections.

• David Jolly (81:41): Announces his candidacy for Governor of Florida as a Democrat, highlighting a shift from his previous Republican affiliation and emphasizing Democratic values.

• Host Nicolle Wallace (84:57): Encourages viewers to follow Jolly's campaign and expresses optimism about electoral prospects.

Notable Quotes:

• David Jolly (81:43): "We can win Florida in 2026 as a Democrat leading a Democratic coalition focused on Democratic values."

• Host Nicolle Wallace (84:51): "We have someone who's spoken to a lot of what you're talking about... David Jolly is running for governor of Florida."

VIII. Conclusion: The Future of American Politics and Governance

Nicolle Wallace wraps up the episode by underscoring the precarious state of American politics, emphasizing the real-world implications of the conflicts discussed.

• Elon Musk (91:28): Critiques the inconsistency and lack of principle in Trump's policies, expressing concern over national security vulnerabilities.

• Host Nicolle Wallace (92:11): Encourages viewers to engage with upcoming content and remain informed about the evolving political landscape.

Notable Quotes:

• Elon Musk (91:58): "There is no principle. There is no consistency. These things just sort of swing with the wind."

• Host Nicolle Wallace (92:04): "You can't find shoes this good just anywhere. Find a shoe for every year you from brands you love..."

This episode of Deadline: White House delves deep into the unraveling relationship between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, the contentious economic and immigration policies shaping the nation, and the looming threats posed by reduced climate research funding. Through expert analysis and firsthand accounts, Nicolle Wallace paints a complex picture of a nation grappling with internal conflicts and leadership challenges. The discussions highlight the fragile state of American institutions, the impact of high-profile feuds on public trust, and the urgent need for compassionate and informed policymaking.