Stephen A's Take: Elon Musk's DOGE, is it getting too nosey?

Summary

The Stephen A. Smith Show

Episode: Stephen A's Take: Elon Musk's DOGE, is it getting too nosey?
Release Date: February 13, 2025

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Introduction to the Episode

In this episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith delves into the controversial involvement of Elon Musk in government affairs, particularly focusing on Musk's recent appointment as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency. The discussion navigates through Musk's collaboration with former President Donald Trump, the implications of his role, and the broader impact on transparency and accountability within the federal government.

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Elon Musk's Role in Government Efficiency

The episode kicks off with a detailed account of a high-profile press conference held at the Oval Office, where Elon Musk and Donald Trump jointly defended their initiatives to overhaul federal government operations and curb excessive spending.

Elon Musk emphasized the public mandate behind these reforms:

“You couldn't ask for a stronger mandate from the public. The people voted for major government reform... They’re going to get what they voted for.”
[01:57]

This statement underscores Musk’s assertion that his actions are in direct response to public demand for governmental change, positioning himself as a catalyst for substantial reforms.

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Transparency and Accountability Concerns

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the transparency of Musk's endeavors within the government and the mechanisms in place to ensure accountability.

Elon Musk asserted the transparency of his actions:

“We post our actions to the Doge handle on X and to the Doge website. So all of our actions are maximally transparent.”
[02:33]

However, this claim is met with skepticism from political commentators who question the effectiveness and sincerity of these transparency measures.

Political Analyst challenges the notion:

“I have to confess, I do want to know how much money politicians are getting from the moment they arrive on Capitol Hill. What are your investments?”
[07:10]

The dialogue highlights a tension between Musk's portrayal of openness and the public's demand for deeper accountability, especially concerning financial disclosures and potential conflicts of interest.

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Political Reactions and Public Concerns

The episode features a robust debate among political commentators regarding the legitimacy and consequences of Musk's appointment. Concerns are raised about Musk wielding significant influence without being an elected official or undergoing Senate confirmation.

Political Commentator expresses alarm:

“Elon Musk is a problem because he's the world's richest Man... he's not an elected official. So not only have the people not elected him, he wasn't even confirmed by the Senate.”
[05:00]

This sentiment is echoed by others who fear that Musk’s unorthodox position could undermine democratic processes and concentrate power excessively.

Political Analyst emphasizes the lack of trust:

“I’ll be damned if I trust Trump. But I don’t wanna hear what they have to say.”
[08:00]

Such statements reflect a broader unease about the fusion of wealth, influence, and government authority without traditional checks and balances.

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Implications for Democracy and Governance

The conversation delves into the potential ramifications of Musk’s role on the functioning of the U.S. government and democracy itself. The commentators debate whether the initiatives led by Musk and Trump aim to genuinely reduce government inefficiency or if they serve to dismantle governmental structures to centralize power.

Political Commentator raises a critical point:

“Are you doing it to dismantle the government in such a way that we don't really have one and we're at the behest and the mercy of Donald Trump and Elon Musk? Because if the latter is true, then our democracy is in danger and autocracy is being entertained.”
[11:39]

This perspective underscores fears that the reforms might erode essential governmental functions, leading to increased vulnerability to authoritarian control.

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Financial Transparency and Government Spending

A recurring theme is the scrutiny of government spending and the necessity for financial transparency within the administration. The commentators insist on uncovering the allocation and usage of taxpayer money, questioning the motives behind Musk and Trump's fiscal policies.

Political Analyst demands clarity:

“I want all those details, every penny. Where has this money been appropriated to? Who has it been appropriated by? What level of benefit did they incur.”
[10:09]

This insistence on detailed financial accountability reflects the public's demand for demonstrable evidence of responsible governance and the ethical management of public funds.

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Concluding Thoughts

Stephen A. Smith wraps up the episode by highlighting the critical need for vigilance in monitoring the actions of high-profile figures like Elon Musk within government roles. The discussion emphasizes that while reform and efficiency are necessary, they must not come at the expense of transparency, accountability, and democratic integrity.

The episode serves as a call to action for listeners to remain informed and proactive in questioning and understanding the intricate dynamics between influential individuals and governmental operations.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Elon Musk
  “You couldn't ask for a stronger mandate from the public... They’re going to get what they voted for.”
  [01:57]

• Elon Musk
  “We post our actions to the Doge handle on X and to the Doge website. So all of our actions are maximally transparent.”
  [02:33]

• Political Analyst
  “I have to confess, I do want to know how much money politicians are getting from the moment they arrive on Capitol Hill... What are your investments?”
  [07:10]

• Political Commentator
  “Elon Musk is a problem because he's the world's richest Man... he wasn't even confirmed by the Senate.”
  [05:00]

• Political Commentator
  “Are you doing it to dismantle the government... our democracy is in danger and autocracy is being entertained.”
  [11:39]

• Political Analyst
  “I want all those details, every penny. Where has this money been appropriated to?...”
  [10:09]

---

This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the episode, providing listeners with an in-depth understanding of the critical discussions surrounding Elon Musk's involvement in government and its potential implications for the future of American democracy.

Transcript

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[Daniel Tosh]

Hi, I'm Daniel Tosh, host of new podcast called Tosh show brought to you by iheart Podcasts. I'll be interviewing people that I find interesting. So not celebrities and certainly not comedians. We'll be covering topics like religion, travel, sports, gambling, but mostly it will be about being a working mother. If you're looking for a podcast that will educate and inspire, or one that will really make you think this isn't the one for you, listen to Toss show on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Political Commentator]

Let's go to Washington, D.C. the nation's capital, where Americans saw a different image of power coming from the White House. Elon Musk, the world's richest man and new head of the Department of Government Efficiency, held a press conference from the Oval Office with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, sitting right next to him. Both men defended their efforts to enact sweeping changes to the federal government and limit spending. The move comes as Trump signed an executive order, yet another one providing new guidance for federal agencies to cut what both men characterize as excessive government spending.

[Daniel Tosh]

Your detractors, Mr. Moss?

[Elon Musk]

I've what?

[Press Reporter]

Including a lot of Democrats?

[Elon Musk]

I have detractors.

[Press Reporter]

You do, sir?

[Elon Musk]

I don't believe it.

[Daniel Tosh]

Say that you're orchestrating a hostile takeover.

[Press Reporter]

Of government and doing it in a non transparent way.

[Daniel Tosh]

What's your response to that criticism?

[Elon Musk]

Well, first of all, you couldn't ask for a stronger mandate from the public. The people voted for major government reform. There should be no doubt about that. That was on the campaign. The President spoke about that at every rally. The people voted for major government reform and that's what people are going to get. They're going to get what they voted for.

[Press Reporter]

Mr. Musk, the White House says that you will identify and excuse yourself from any conflicts of interest that you may have. Does that mean that you are, in effect, policing yourself? What are the checks and balances that are in place to ensure that there is accountability and transparency?

[Elon Musk]

Well, we actually are trying to be as transparent as possible. In fact, our actions, we post our actions to the Doge handle on X and to the Doge website. So all of our actions are maximally transparent. In fact, I don't think there's been. I don't know of a case where an organization has been more transparent than the Doge organization. And I fully expect to be scrutinized and get a daily proctology exam. Basically, I'll just camp out there. So it's not like I think I can get away with something. I'll be scrutinized nonstop.

[Government Official]

And we thought that we would not let him do that segment or look in that area if we thought there was a lack of transparency or a conflict of interest. And we watch that also.

[Press Reporter]

If a judge does block one of your policies, part of your agenda, will you abide by that ruling?

[Political Analyst]

Will you comply with the court?

[Government Official]

Well, I always abide by the courts, and then I'll have to appeal it. But then what he's done is he slowed down the momentum and it gives crooked people more time to cover up the books. Yeah, the answer is I always abide by the courts, always abide by them and will appeal.

[Political Commentator]

You know, I listen to Elon Musk speaking there. I listen to Donald Trump, President Donald Trump, the 47th President of the United States, formerly the 45th President of the United States, speaking there. And I'm watching Democrats protesting on Capitol Hill demanding justice, highlighting that nobody elected Elon. I'm hearing politicians, rightfully so, I might add, emphasizing the need to not stand pat and just wait to make change come midterm elections. They're not wrong. We don't need to stand alibi and wait until the midterm elections. Folks do need to speak out, especially our elected officials. But like I told y'all before, my politics, regardless of what you want to think, because most of the time I vote Democrat. That's usually involving the presidency. I didn't tell you how I vote for a gubernatorial seat or a mayoral seat or anything like that, but that's neither here nor there. The point is, I pride myself in being a centrist. I'll openly confess that most people on my team are not. They're leftist. I'll openly confess that a lot of people that I work for and whatever, regardless of what they say, I think they're righties. They're not fooling anybody. I don't care. I look at the information and I'm going to call balls and strikes like I see them. Elon Musk is a problem. He is a problem because he's the world's richest Man. According to numerous reports, he's received money from our government because he's in business with the government, whether it's Skylink, Tesla or whatever. I don't have those that information in front of me. And he's not an elected official. So not only have the people not elected him, he wasn't even confirmed by the Senate.

[Political Analyst]

He's just Trump's guy.

[Political Commentator]

That is an incredible, incredible reason to.

[Political Analyst]

Be alarmed, especially when they're looking at act have access to the Treasury. Treasury, thereby giving them access to private information involving every American citizen in this country. Certainly, there's a reason to be very, very alarmed. Nobody's denying that.

[Political Commentator]

But you see, I'm fair minded. There's a flip side. I don't know about y'all, but aren't you a little bit suspicious about watching a bunch of Democrats raise holy hell over his access before we find out whatever it is that he's found out?

[Political Analyst]

I don't know about y'all, but I don't want laws being broken.

[Political Commentator]

I don't want the Constitution being ignored or violated.

[Political Analyst]

I don't want the civil liberties of American citizens being compromised. All of that is true. But I have to confess, I do want to know how much money politicians are getting from the moment they arrive on Capitol Hill. What are your investments? Who did you invest with? What kind of information did you get access to to enable you to make those investments so you can make money? Do the American people have the same access you have? We damn sure don't have the same health care. From my understanding, these are questions.

[Political Commentator]

Why do we have a problem knowing that the answers to them? Inquiring minds would like to know.

[Political Analyst]

You're an elected official. That makes you a public figure. I think Trump should have given us access to his books. I think it should have been mandated when he was running for election in 2015 and in 2016. How in the hell did he not have to show us his tax returns? That should have been mandatory. I got a red flag up about Musk, too. I'll be damned if I trust Trump.

[Political Commentator]

But nearly 80 million people have spoken.

[Political Analyst]

Regardless of what the Democrats want to tell us.

[Political Commentator]

And I hear that the number was like 220,000 out of millions. That's what it ultimately came down to, the difference in the polls between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, whatever it is.

[Political Analyst]

He won every swing state, one, about 50 counties. He increased in the black, the Hispanic, and the young voter demographic and the white women. That was supposed to come out and be against him in droves because of his position on Roe v. Wade didn't equate to him not being reelected.

[Political Commentator]

Somewhere along the line.

[Political Analyst]

Send missing. I understand the uproar. I understand the need for the Democrats to make noise. DEI is another thing. We'll be revisiting that in the days and the weeks to come, make no mistake about it. But understand on its premise to have somebody elected in office targeting excessive government spending. I'm trying to figure out how is the taxpayer supposed to be appalled and put off and threatened by that exposure being revealed to us? If I'm not trusting Musk, I'm not trusting Trump. But I'll be damned if I don't wanna hear what they have to say.

[Political Commentator]

About where the hell millions upon millions of dollars of taxpayer money has gone.

[Political Analyst]

Oh, I want all those details, every penny.

[Political Commentator]

If you can find out.

[Political Analyst]

I want it all. Where has this money been appropriated to? Who has it been appropriated by? What level of benefit did they incur.

[Political Commentator]

From it and who suffered because of it?

[Political Analyst]

There are strong questions to ask coming.

[Political Commentator]

Down the pike, especially with these executive orders. Trump is handing it down.

[Political Analyst]

You want to get rid of the Department of Education.

[Political Commentator]

Well, what kind of damage is that going to do? Where will we be as a country without the Department of Education? What tentacles does it have and does it reach that could detrimentally affect the American people? And if you don't have a Department.

[Political Analyst]

Of Education, how specifically is that going to benefit our country? I want to hear about all of that. I want to hear about that with the CIA, whole bunch of people that you asked to resign or take off or take severance back, whatever you did. I want to hear that with Di. I want to hear that about the FBI. I want to hear about everything. Because are you doing what you doing to find money to make it look like we're doing better? Because we've located where the money has gone and, and, and, and we've identified where excessive spending needs to be targeted so we don't have to worry about that anymore.

[Political Commentator]

Are you doing it to dismantle the government in such a way that we don't really have one and we're at the behest and the mercy of Donald Trump and Elon Musk? Because if the latter is true, then our democracy is in danger and autocracy is being entertained. If the latter is true, we don't know. Perhaps we'll find out sooner than later. But I know this much. I want to know where the money is, where the money is gone and who the hell's been spending it. And how much did they take for themselves? Yeah, I want to know that even if it comes from some South African dude worth billions that has no relation to me whatsoever, my interest is in where the money resides. Where the money resides. Where the money resides. Where the money resides. Okay, that's all I got to say about that.

[Greg Rosenthal]

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[Press Reporter]

What's up, everyone? Julie Swerbinks here, along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.

[Elon Musk]

We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.

[Press Reporter]

The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.

[Elon Musk]

Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?

[Press Reporter]

Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.

[Elon Musk]

Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

[Press Reporter]

Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.