The NPR Politics Podcast: Weekly Roundup – Diplomacy, DOGE & Drawings

Release Date: December 6, 2024

In the latest episode of The NPR Politics Podcast, hosts Ashley Lopez, Tamara Keith, and Domenico Montanaro delve into the multifaceted developments surrounding the incoming presidency of Donald Trump, his unprecedented transition strategy, preemptive foreign policy maneuvers, and the ambitious yet contentious Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative spearheaded by notable Trump allies Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy.

1. Trump's Accelerated Transition and Cabinet Nominations

The episode opens with a thorough examination of Donald Trump's swift approach to filling his Cabinet positions, a departure from traditional presidential transitions. Ashley Lopez initiates the discussion by highlighting the unusual speed at which Trump has proceeded with his nominations.

Ashley Lopez [00:57]: "Today on the show, we're going to be talking about two facets of the incoming presidency. The first is how Donald Trump is doing more as a president in waiting than many of his predecessors before him."

Tamara Keith provides insight into Trump's strategy, suggesting a deliberate attempt to overwhelm Washington with rapid announcements.

Tamara Keith [01:25]: "I think this is part of the whole shock and awe thing, really. I think that Trump is trying to take Washington by storm, and part of that is just getting all of these out."

Domenico Montanaro expands on how Trump's extended time away from office has allowed him to build a network of loyalists, facilitating a transition devoid of the typical "getting to know you" phase.

Domenico Montanaro [02:09]: "He doesn't have to worry about politics anymore, which is also true. And he doesn't have the guardrails, you know, sort of the restrictions put on place by whether something you do is legal or not legal or whatever you need Congress to do."

The hosts discuss the potential risks of naming Cabinet members well in advance, such as increased scrutiny and the possibility of nominees withdrawing due to uncovered controversies.

Ashley Lopez [04:05]: "But, Domenico, I do wonder if there are any risks in naming so many people so far in advance, though."

Domenico Montanaro [04:10]: "There's a lot of examination that winds up taking place that maybe if you put somebody out with a more crunch timeline, that there would be less of an opportunity for senators to jump off board."

Tamara Keith adds that the rapid announcements may circumvent traditional vetting processes, leading to potential vulnerabilities in the administration's lineup.

Tamara Keith [04:48]: "Trump is saying, I'm doing things my way, I'm doing it differently, is making it so these things happen, not quietly."

2. Trump’s Preemptive Foreign Policy Moves

Shifting focus to foreign policy, the hosts analyze Trump's early actions and communications with international leaders even before officially taking office. Ashley Lopez notes Trump's declaration of imposing tariffs on Canada and Mexico via Truth Social, prompting immediate reactions from their respective leaders.

Ashley Lopez [06:01]: "When Trump posted on Truth Social that he wanted to hit Canada and Mexico with tariffs, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago to meet with him. And Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum called Trump to try and get him to change his mind."

Tamara Keith clarifies that while such interactions are customary for incoming presidents, Trump’s approach mirrors his previous tenure's unconventional and confrontational style.

Tamara Keith [07:05]: "He announces big tariffs, and then he gets people to come and talk to him, and then he backs down. That has typically been the pattern of the way he led the last time."

Domenico Montanaro draws parallels between Trump's foreign policy strategies and his business tactics as outlined in his book, Art of the Deal, emphasizing his penchant for making bold statements to secure negotiation leverage.

Domenico Montanaro [08:25]: "He basically sketched it out in Art of the Deal, the book that he'd written. And it's kind of not unlike how he's operated in his business life, because he'll throw out sort of big, bombastic things to try to get people's attention, and then he wants to get them in the room so that he can make a deal."

The hosts discuss the potential efficacy and unpredictability of Trump’s approach, considering his historical success rates in negotiations and the immediate international response.

Tamara Keith [08:54]: "He would say that his success rate is incredible. The reality is sometimes people are calling him and give, promising him things that they're already doing, and he can claim victory."

3. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE): Musk and Ramaswamy’s Initiative

The conversation shifts to an in-depth analysis of the newly announced Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative aimed at drastically reducing the size of the federal government. Susan Davis, an NPR political correspondent, provides detailed reporting on this development.

Ashley Lopez [11:11]: "So you've been reporting on an effort from two big Trump allies, that's Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy and their effort to drastically shrink the size of the federal government. Can you talk to me about what they're doing?"

Susan Davis [11:25]: "Back in November, Donald Trump announced what he's calling the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and that it would be led by Musk and Ramaswamy... It might be one of the oldest ideas in Washington and we're just starting to see the framework by which it will take shape."

Domenico Montanaro critiques the feasibility of DOGE’s ambitious goal of cutting $2 trillion from government spending, highlighting the challenge of addressing mandatory expenditures like Medicare and Social Security.

Domenico Montanaro [14:06]: "The drivers of the national debt are things like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, which are things that are essentially walled off where nobody wants to touch them."

Susan Davis echoes these concerns, pointing out historical failures of similar initiatives and the practical limitations DOGE faces.

Susan Davis [14:06]: "During the Obama administration there was two very high profile efforts to try to create debt commissions to reduce the debt. ... This time around it's like what could be different?"

The discussion further explores the political dynamics, noting that while there is popular support for making government more efficient, actual implementation of deep cuts is politically challenging due to the competing interests and protections around essential programs.

Domenico Montanaro [17:13]: "The idea that you could balance the budget by somehow making trims to discretionary spending ... it's a lot of money. But $2 trillion to cut it out of the existing budget, if you take Social Security and Medicare off the table, it's almost impossible."

Susan Davis adds that DOGE lacks official government status, funding, and authority, raising questions about its long-term impact and sustainability.

Susan Davis [16:22]: "This is not a government agency. It hasn't been authorized by Congress. There's been no money or resources appropriated to support it."

Furthermore, the hosts discuss the optics and potential backlash of having wealthy individuals like Musk and Ramaswamy lead an initiative aimed at reducing government spending, especially considering the possible negative impact on less advantaged populations.

Susan Davis [22:22]: "There’s a risk that this could create political backlash. ... it's two very wealthy men putting forward potentially spending cuts that could help less advantaged people in the world has the potential to create political backlash."

Domenico Montanaro underscores Trump's historical inclination towards tax cuts over spending cuts, questioning the alignment between DOGE's objectives and Trump's past fiscal policies.

Domenico Montanaro [19:49]: "Donald Trump raised spending more during his administration than Barack Obama did during his. ... he really wants tax cuts."

Susan Davis expresses skepticism about DOGE’s ability to achieve its goals, noting substantial political and structural barriers within the federal budget process.

Susan Davis [21:01]: "There's virtually no way you can do it on the federal budget if you take mandatory spending off the table."

Despite these challenges, Davis highlights that DOGE has garnered significant support on Capitol Hill, with lawmakers interested in leveraging executive power to streamline government operations without necessitating congressional approval.

Susan Davis [16:22]: "They have been very clear... to reduce the size of the government, which is obviously something that Donald Trump campaigned very clearly on."

4. Political Implications and Future Prospects

The episode concludes with reflections on the short-term nature of DOGE, slated to conclude by July 4, 2026, and the broader implications for Trump's second term ambitions to "make America great again."

Susan Davis [23:25]: "This won't last forever. It's a short lived effort. They're expected to wrap their work by July 4, 2026, which will coincide with the 250th anniversary of our great Nation, by which point Donald Trump says he will have made America great again."

Domenico Montanaro reiterates the likelihood of significant federal workforce reductions, aligning with Trump's longstanding rhetoric on combating the "deep state" and promoting governmental efficiency.

Domenico Montanaro [22:56]: "Trump ran on cutting the federal government and, you know, talking about the deep state over and over again, and he's putting two people in charge who he trusts... So I do think that there are likely to be cuts."

Conclusion

This episode of The NPR Politics Podcast provides a comprehensive exploration of Donald Trump's unprecedentedly aggressive transition strategy, his early maneuvers in foreign policy, and the controversial DOGE initiative aimed at overhauling federal government efficiency. Through incisive analysis and expert commentary, the hosts shed light on the potential ramifications of these developments for the upcoming presidency and the broader political landscape.

Notable Quotes:

• Tamara Keith [01:25]: "Trump is trying to take Washington by storm..."
• Domenico Montanaro [02:09]: "He doesn't have to worry about politics anymore..."
• Susan Davis [11:25]: "DOGE might be one of the oldest ideas in Washington..."
• Domenico Montanaro [14:06]: "It's almost impossible to cut $2 trillion without touching mandatory spending."
• Susan Davis [23:25]: "They’re expected to wrap their work by July 4, 2026..."

This detailed summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the episode, offering listeners a thorough understanding of the critical political shifts and initiatives shaping the incoming Trump administration.