Trump Targets DEI in Public and Private Sectors

Summary

Podcast Summary: What A Day – "Trump Targets DEI in Public and Private Sectors"

Introduction and Overview

In the January 27, 2025 episode of What A Day, hosted by Jane Coaston from Crooked Media, the discussion centers on former President Donald Trump's aggressive stance against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives within both public and private sectors. The episode delves into recent policy decisions, their implications, and the broader socio-political landscape shaped by these moves. Key topics include Trump's imposition of tariffs on Colombia, executive orders targeting DEI efforts, Senate confirmation hearings for notable figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard, and the administration’s controversial firings of inspectors general.

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Economy and Trade: Trump Imposes Tariffs on Colombia

The episode opens with President Donald Trump's latest economic maneuver—imposing a 25% tariff on all Colombian goods via a post on Truth Social, with the possibility of increasing it to 50% within a week. Additionally, Trump announced financial sanctions on Colombia and a travel ban for its government officials. This retaliatory measure responds to Colombian President Gustavo Petro's decision to block two U.S. military planes carrying migrants from landing in Colombia. President Petro justified his actions by emphasizing the need to treat Colombian migrants with dignity rather than criminalizing them.

Farah Stockman, a member of The New York Times editorial board, comments on the high stakes involved for countries like Colombia when dealing with Trump's administration. "It's a risky move on Petro's part because the US is Colombia's largest trading partner," Stockman explains, highlighting the potential economic repercussions for everyday Americans as they bear the brunt of increased tariffs on goods like coffee and roses [02:08].

Executive Orders Targeting DEI

Transitioning from trade to internal policies, Jane Coaston discusses Trump's first-week actions in office, notably his executive orders aimed at dismantling DEI initiatives within the federal government. These orders include ending affirmative action for federal contractors, rescinding a previous order by President Lyndon Johnson, and directing the suspension and eventual termination of all federal DEI staff. DEI efforts had previously focused on allocating resources to rural communities and providing employment opportunities for disabled veterans.

Interview with Farah Stockman: The Impact and Missteps of DEI

To unpack the implications of these actions, Coaston invites Farah Stockman to discuss DEI's role under the Biden administration versus Trump's approach. Stockman reflects on the benefits of a diverse cabinet, such as the appointment of Deb Haaland, the first Native American Cabinet member, who successfully auctioned federal land for conservation due to her indigenous ties [03:20]. However, she acknowledges missteps, particularly in messaging—emphasizing qualifications over identity to avoid perceptions that appointments were based solely on diversity metrics.

Stockman further elaborates on the Biden administration’s comprehensive DEI efforts, which extended beyond race to include support for disabled veterans, rural communities, and formerly incarcerated individuals. "It was a sprawling whole of government effort that was probably too big to even comprehend," she notes [04:24]. This broad approach aimed to address systemic inequities, though it faced criticism and was later targeted by Trump's rollback.

Politicization and Implications of DEI

The conversation shifts to the current politicization of DEI. Stockman observes that the term has become "quite toxic," with many misconstruing DEI efforts as undermining meritocracy. She points out a significant cultural backlash, where even those who benefited from DEI initiatives, like a Democrat friend who registered as an independent upon Biden’s DEI push, now perceive these policies as detrimental [08:43].

Furthermore, Stockman criticizes the Trump administration's sweeping definitions of DEI, which have led to aggressive measures such as shutting down DEI offices and launching investigations into organizations that previously embraced these initiatives. This approach not only threatens federal DEI programs but also extends pressure to the private sector, questioning the sustainability and future of diversity and inclusion efforts beyond government mandates [07:38].

Foreign Policy: Trump's Proposal for Palestinian Refugees and Regional Conflicts

Expanding on Trump's foreign policy maneuvers, Coaston reports Trump's suggestion that Egypt and Jordan should accept Palestinian refugees from Gaza amidst ongoing conflicts. This proposal meets resistance, with Jordanian officials rejecting it and Egypt withholding comment, citing concerns over Israel's potential refusal to allow refugees to return [15:17]. Meanwhile, Israel faces civil unrest as its military opens fire on displaced Palestinians attempting to return home, resulting in casualties and heightened tensions in the region.

Additionally, the episode covers the expiration of a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. Despite a prior agreement to establish a buffer zone in southern Lebanon, Israeli forces accused Hezbollah of violations, leading to renewed conflict and significant civilian casualties [15:30]. This situation underscores the volatile nature of Middle Eastern geopolitics and the challenges in maintaining peace agreements.

Senate Confirmations and Cabinet Picks

The episode highlights recent Senate confirmations of Trump's cabinet nominees. Pete Hegseth, confirmed as Defense Secretary despite allegations of misconduct, and Kristi Noem, sworn in as Homeland Security Secretary, reflect Trump's selective approach to appointments. Vice President J.D. Vance played a pivotal role in breaking a 50-50 Senate vote to confirm Hegseth, marking only the second time in U.S. history a vice president has done so for a Cabinet nominee [18:15]. The discussion also anticipates upcoming confirmation hearings for Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services Secretary, both figures known for their controversial stances.

Trump Administration's Firings of Inspectors General

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the Trump administration's late-night firings of over a dozen inspectors general across various departments, including Defense, State, Health and Human Services, and Labor. Inspectors general are critical for auditing and investigating federal agencies to prevent misconduct. The abrupt removals appear to violate the Inspector General Act, which mandates a 30-day notice and justifications for such dismissals.

Senator Lindsey Graham defended the firings on Meet the Press, suggesting Trump has the authority to make personnel changes [19:57]. However, Democratic Senator Adam Schiff countered, emphasizing the legal violations and potential ramifications: "If we don't have good and independent inspector generals, we are going to see a swamp refill" [20:16].

Elon Musk's Far-Right Affiliations and Public Statements

The episode also touches on Elon Musk’s increasing alignment with far-right parties and individuals globally. Musk, the world's richest person, has made controversial statements and engaged with far-right groups, including the German political party Alternative for Germany. His tweets, such as dismissing historical guilt related to Nazi Germany and making insensitive remarks about Jewish communities, raise concerns about his influence and the accountability of powerful individuals. Farah Stockman criticizes Musk's actions, distancing neurodiversity from his problematic behavior and stressing the irresponsible nature of his public statements [20:28].

Conclusion

The episode of What A Day provides a comprehensive analysis of Donald Trump's efforts to dismantle DEI initiatives, the ensuing political and social backlash, and the broader implications for American governance and international relations. Through insightful discussions with experts like Farah Stockman, the show underscores the complexities and consequences of rapid policy shifts, highlighting the fragile interplay between political agendas and societal values.

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Notable Quotes:

• J.D. Vance on Tariffs: "Prices are going to come down, but it's going to take a little bit of time, right?" [02:08]

• Farah Stockman on DEI Missteps: "I wish Biden had just said, I'm going to appoint someone very qualified and then appointed Ketanji, Brown, Jackson." [04:56]

• Adam Schiff on Inspectors General: "If we don't have good and independent inspector generals, we are going to see a swamp refill." [20:16]

• Lindsey Graham on Inspector General Firings: "He [Trump] has the authority to do it." [19:57]

This episode paints a vivid picture of the current political climate, the contentious debates surrounding DEI, and the far-reaching effects of Trump's policies on both domestic and international fronts.

Transcript

[Jane Coston]

This show was recorded at 8:30pm Eastern Time on Sunday, January 26. News moves quickly, so some of the stories may have changed by the time you hear this. It's Monday, January 27th. I'm Jane Coston. This is what a day. The show that is preparing to remind every American that we'll see and we'll be looking at that very closely, are not actual indications of policy decisions. And more and more people are saying that this all sucks. On today's show, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. And Tulsi Gabbard gear up for their highly anticipated Senate confirmation hearings. And the Trump administration breaks the law with late night inspector general firings. But let's start with the economy and trade today. In a throwback to his first term, President Donald Trump fired up his social media account on Sunday to make a major policy decision via post. Trump said on Truth social that the US would immediately slap a 25% tariff on all goods from Colombia and could raise it to 50% in the next week. He also announced financial sanctions on Colombia and a travel ban for government officials, among other penalties. Why is Trump doing all of this? Because Colombian President Gustavo Petro blocked two US Military planes carrying migrants from landing in the country. Petro confirmed the move in a statement on Twitter. He said the United States can't treat Colombian migrants like criminals and that there needs to be a protocol to treat them with dignity before Colombia will receive them later. Petro ordered his trade minister to slap a 25% retaliatory tariff on American imports to Colombia, too. It's a risky move on Petro's part because the US Is Colombia's largest trading partner, and it speaks to the high stakes countries like Colombia face when dealing with Trump, as well as Trump's willingness to inflict economic pain as fast as it takes him to send off a tweet. So I guess start stocking up on that Colombian coffee you like and, and roses, you know, because we the people end up paying those tariffs. Good thing the price of groceries overall is going down. Oh, wait, that's not actually happening, Vice President J.D. vance said on CBS Sunday. We have to wait for that.

[J.D. Vance]

Prices are going to come down, but it's going to take a little bit of time, right?

[Jane Coston]

I'm going to put a pin in that one. Vice President Vance Trump's first week in office also featured executive orders aimed at eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion. DEI for short. From the federal government. He signed an executive order ending affirmative action for federal contractors, rescinding another order issued by President Lyndon Johnson and directed that all federal DEI staff be put on paid leave and eventually fired. But what does that actually mean? DEI efforts at the federal level have included fighting for getting resources to rural communities and ensuring that disabled veterans have opportunities for employment. And the Trump administration has now said it wants to target DEI in the private sector, too.

[Farah Stockman]

Because.

[Jane Coston]

Because American business is sacrosanct unless they're doing something Republicans don't like, I guess. Yes, DEI can often look like window dressing to me, a way for businesses that do things like break up unions or build bombs to look good in front of the general public. But the anti DEI fighters on the right seem to be of the belief that DEI is when a black woman has a job, it's complicated. So to talk about the Trump administration's fight against dei, I called up Farah Stockman, a member of the New York Times editorial board. Farrah, welcome to Whataday.

[Farah Stockman]

Hey, thanks for having me.

[Jane Coston]

So former President Biden had the most diverse cabinet in American history. How did that diversity translate into benefits for the American public?

[Farah Stockman]

What a good question. I mean, this summer, I actually started trying to collect stories about how people's personal histories helped them do their job. Right. So you have the first Native American Cabinet member, Deb Haaland. Like, how did that make her a better Cabinet member? You can tell that story, Right? So she ended up finding a way to auction off federal land for conservation, which is something that was important to her because she had this sort of indigenous connection to the land. She was the Secretary of the Interior. So it was harder than I thought, though, to collect those stories. People in the administration weren't expecting that question. They had been expecting to, you know, tell how many people of color were on the Cabinet, but not how sort of the specifics of how their background actually mattered.

[Jane Coston]

Do you think that there were missteps? Because I think when I talk to some people who are further on the left than I am, they've argued that corporate DEI or DEI in government can be a smokescreen. Because at the one point, like, yes, it's great to have an African American press secretary, but on the other hand, what does that mean for African American workers? Did these programs, whether DEI in government or DEI in corporate America, do those programs work? Do they do what we wanted them to do?

[Farah Stockman]

So I definitely think there were missteps. I think a lot of the missteps were around messaging and how you, you know, when people ask you who you're going to appoint to the Supreme Court, you say a black woman. It doesn't telegraph that you're appointing the most qualified person for the job. So I wish Biden had just said, I'm going to appoint someone very qualified and then appointed Ketanji, Brown, Jackson. But your point about whether it could be a smokescreen. I think the Biden administration's diversity efforts are poorly understood. And part of what they did do was look for data, data on not just federal hiring, but grants. Who's getting grants? Which kinds of communities and also suppliers. Who's supplying the federal government? And I think that kind of information is important. And it was not just people of color they were looking at. They were looking at disabled veterans, they were looking at rural communities. They were looking at people formerly incarcerated and what are their obstacles to getting hired. So I just, it was a sprawling whole of government effort that was probably too big to even comprehend. And now we're in this moment of cultural whiplash where, like, people are expected to scrub the stuff off their resume because it's now a mark against you.

[Jane Coston]

Right. And you know, that's because of President Donald Trump, who has wasted no time in unwinding Biden's diversity efforts, namely by shutting down government offices dedicated to DEI work and clearing the way to fire their employees. But how broadly is the Trump administration defining DEI and what sorts of programs are gone now?

[Farah Stockman]

Well, I mean, anybody who worked in an office where DEI was in the name is gone. And not only that, but they've started sort of a witch hunt where They've given people 10 days to report on programs that used to have DEI in their description, but, but had that description changed after November. So they're looking for, you know, secret programs that might be trying to fly under the radar. But Trump also rolled back LBJ's executive order. He's going back to the 60s. It's not like he's just going back to Biden and some excesses of recent years. He's going back to when Lyndon B. Johnson said let's not discriminate on the basis of race. So are we comfortable with that? Are we okay to going back that far and getting rid of that executive order? I'm not.

[Jane Coston]

Yeah. And just the types of programs that could get swept up in this. What does this mean for pretty much any policy that is aimed specifically at helping a non white man do stuff in the workforce?

[Farah Stockman]

I mean, it's, it's going to be interesting to see what they do and whether they go after colleges. Right. Forget about the federal government. What are they going to do? The private sector, Costco is still like, standing strong on diversity and saying it's important and that they're still going to, you know, hire with that in mind and, you know, are they going to try to make an example of Costco? Like, so that's where we're at.

[Jane Coston]

One of the challenges here is that the term DEI has become deeply politicized. We have people who, and I will say people who I think are racists, who basically are like, if you hire a nonwhite person, that's dei. But you also have a lot of people who have re, you know, reaped the benefits of DEI programs. So do you think Americans really support the ends of these kinds of programs in practice?

[Farah Stockman]

I think the whole term DEI has become quite toxic, and I'm not sure it deserves all the vitriol that's surrounding it. But I remember a friend of mine who was a Democrat. As soon as Biden got behind this whole DEI push, he registered as an independent. Like, you know, there's this feeling that when you talk about diversity, you're throwing out merit. And I think there are a lot of Americans who misunderstand the sort of spirit behind it. I don't think that people realize how far this is going to go, and I'm not sure they're going to like what we end up with.

[Jane Coston]

I want to pick up at what you were just saying about the idea of merit, because it's been jarring to see the split screen of the Trump administration insisting that DEI policies and merit based hiring are mutually exclusive. And yet, at the same time, some of the Trump cabinet picks, like newly confirmed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Health Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. They are deeply unqualified for the jobs they've been selected for. So what message does that send to the public? It's like merit based hiring, except for, you know, the president.

[Farah Stockman]

I think the message it sends is that if you're a black or brown person, then when you get the job, that's why you got the job. And merit was not a part of it. I mean, I think part of the problem is what constitutes merit in a government sense? What are our goals when it comes to the government? And when you look at a private business, at the end of the day, are you. Making money is a pretty easy goal, but when it comes to government service, maybe we don't have the same idea of what constitutes success. And I think for Trump, loyalty is all that matters. Right?

[Jane Coston]

This is such a massive pendulum swing in such a short amount of time. I mean, 2020 was just a couple of years ago. It's been wild. So how do you see this playing out in the next few weeks, months and years?

[Farah Stockman]

I mean, it is an incredible cultural whiplash. The Biden administration came to power in the wake of the George Floyd protests and at the time, like DEI was like one of the promises to the left that he kept. He came in and said, we're going to do this whole of government effort to make sure that we look at where we're falling short. And I don't know, it was an incredibly idealistic moment to say the federal government is going to push a lot of money out the door and we want to make sure we're pushing it equitably to communities that need it. And we don't want communities that are rural or underserved to have a harder time getting access. We want to make sure that poor people who normally don't pay close attention get the checks they're owed. And that came under this DEI kind of rubric. So you can say what you want about merit and how results mean more than representation, but some of this stuff you don't want to throw out.

[Jane Coston]

Farrah, thank you so much for being here.

[Farah Stockman]

Hey, thanks for having me.

[Jane Coston]

That was my conversation with Farrah Stockman, a member of the New York Times editorial board. We'll link to her pieces on DEI in the show Notes. We'll get to more of the news in a moment, but if you like the show, make sure to subscribe, leave a five star review on Apple Podcasts, watch us on YouTube and share with your friends. More to come after some ads. Water Day is brought to you by Nutrafol. You should love your hair, but that can be hard to do if you're dealing with shedding or thinning. Luckily, Nutrafol is here to help. Their whole body approach to hair health works from the inside out so you can start loving your hair again. Nutrafol is the 1 dermatologist recommended hair growth supplement brand trusted by over 1 million people see thicker, stronger, faster growing hair with less shedding in just three to six months. With Nutrafol, everyone's root causes of hair thinning are different. So a one size fits all approach to hair growth doesn't cut it. Nutrafol has multiple formulas that are tailored to give your hair what it needs to grow throughout different stages like postpartum and menopause, as well as for different lifestyles such as plant based diets. And while many supplements rely solely on ingredient studies, Nutrafol clinically tests final formulations to ensure their efficacy. In a clinical study, 86% of women reported improved hair growth after taking Nutrafol Women Hair Growth Supplement for six months. Start your hair growth journey with Nutrafol. For unlimited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month subscription and free shipping. When you go to nutrafol.com and enter the Promo Code Day, find out why over 4,500 healthcare professionals and stylists recommend Nutrafol for healthier hair Nutrafol.com, spelled N u t r a f o l.com, promo code day. That's Nutrafol.com promo code day.

[J.D. Vance]

This podcast is supported by Comedy Central's Emmy Award winning series the Daily Show. Jon Stewart and the Daily show news team are kicking off 2025 with brand new episodes covering a brand new administration and a not quite brand new president. While it may feel like we've all been here before, it's never been covered like this, with Jon Stewart behind the desk kicking off every week. Comedy Central's the Daily show new tonight at 11 on Comedy Central and streaming next day on Paramount.

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[Jane Coston]

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[Farah Stockman]

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[Jane Coston]

Here'S what else we're following today. Head of Lines.

[Donald Trump]

I'd like Egypt to take people and I'd like Georgia to take people. I could. I mean, you're talking about probably a million and a half people and we just clean out that hall of famous.

[Jane Coston]

President Trump told reporters on Saturday that he thinks Jordan and Egypt should take Palestinian refugees from Gaza while the strip rebuilds. He said their resettlement could be temporary or long term. For the record, Mr. President, nearly all of the 2 million people who live in Gaza have been displaced by the ongoing war on the Strip.

[Donald Trump]

I said to him, I'd love you to take them at war because I'm looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now and it's a mess.

[Jane Coston]

Jordan is home to more than 2 million Palestinian refugees, a result of decades of war. Trump said he spoke to the king of Jordan over the weekend about taking in more, but Jordanian officials publicly rejected the idea on Sunday. Egypt has yet to issue a public comment but has refused the idea in the past, citing concerns that Israel may never allow refugees to return home. Israel's finance minister, on the other hand, called Trump's proposal, quote, a great idea. On Sunday, Israel's military opened fire on crowds of displaced Palestinians in northern Gaza who were trying to return home. Two people were killed. Israel blocked the road to northern Gaza over the weekend, accusing Hamas of violating the order of hostage release outlined in their ceasefire agreement. Hamas freed four Israeli soldiers in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, per the deal on Saturday. But Israel said it's still waiting for Hamas to release another Israeli hostage and will not leave northern Gaza until she's freed next door in Lebanon. A crucial deadline in Israel's ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah expired on Sunday, signaling that heavy fighting between the two sides could soon resume. Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed militant group, agreed on a fighting pause with Israel back in November after trading fire for months. The deal required Hezbollah and the Israeli Defense Forces to withdraw from southern Lebanon by January 26th. This would have made the region a buffer zone and allowed displaced residents to return home. But Israel accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire agreement and refused to withdraw. Instead, Israel's military opened fire on dozens of people in the region who were protesting its troops. At least 22 people were killed and more than 100 were wounded. Israel called Sunday's attack a round of warning shots. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said troops will stay in southern Lebanon until they're confident that Hezbollah won't regain control of the area. While all of this was going on, the White House put out a press release on Sunday saying that the Israel Hezbollah ceasefire was extended to mid February. But neither Hezbollah nor Israel have confirmed a new deal over the weekend. Two of Trump's Cabinet picks were confirmed on Saturday. Pete Hegseth was sworn in as defense secretary despite allegations of sexual misconduct and alcohol abuse. Hegseth denies the claims. He thanked God and his third wife for the win Saturday and as I.

[J.D. Vance]

Said in my hearing, it was Jesus and Jenny, I would not be here without you, Sweetheart.

[Jane Coston]

Vice President J.D. vance broke the tide to confirm Hegseth after a 5050 vote in the Senate on Friday. Senators Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine were the only three Republicans to join Democrats in voting against Hegseth's confirmation. It was just the second time in U.S. history a vice president broke a tie for a Cabinet nominee. The Senate also confirmed Kristi Noem as homeland Security secretary on Saturday. The bipartisan vote was 59 34. Noem, who infamously admitted to shooting her family puppy, was sworn in later that day. Some of Trump's other cabinet picks, including two of his more questionable nominees, are scheduled to have their confirmation hearings. This former Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to serve as Director of National Intelligence and anti vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. For Health and Human Services Secretary. More than a dozen inspectors general received late night emails from the Trump administration on Friday firing them. The federal watchdogs were removed from the Defense Department, State Department, Health and Human Services Department and the Department of Labor. Inspectors general are independent figures who audit and investigate their federal agencies when allegations of misconduct arise. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle pointed out that the action appears to violate the law. The Inspector General act states that before an inspector general is removed, presidents are required to give Congress a 30 day notice. And reasoning for the firing. South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham tried to justify the Trump administration's firings on Sunday on NBC's Meet the Press. But very quickly, the law says he's supposed to give 30 days notice. He didn't do that.

[Lindsey Graham]

Do you think he violated the law?

[Farah Stockman]

Well, technically, yeah, but he has the authority to do it. So I'm not, you know, losing a whole lot of sleep that he wants to change the personnel out the authority.

[Jane Coston]

To violate the law. Okay. California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff was also on Meet the Press and responded to Graham's comments to write off this clear.

[J.D. Vance]

Violation of law by saying, well, technically he broke the law. Yeah, he broke the law. And not just any law, but a law meant to crowd out waste, fraud and abuse.

[Jane Coston]

Schiff said, quote, if we don't have good and independent inspector generals, we are going to see a swamp refill. And that's the news. One more thing. Elon Musk is the world's richest person. Elon Musk has discussed being neurodiverse. Elon Musk has also advocated for far right parties and individuals in countries around the globe. According to a British right wing activist convicted of libeling a Syrian child, Elon said he would pay his legal fees and Elon demanded that he be freed from prison. On Twitter on Saturday, he spoke to the far right German political party Alternative for Germany and said that it was time for Germans to just get over any historical guilt they might have over anything their great grandparents may have done, you know, say around 1933 to 1945.

[Unnamed Speaker]

You know, I think there's like frankly too much of a, of a focus on past guilt and we need to move beyond that. People, children should not be guilty of the sins of their parents or even let alone their parents, their great grandparents.

[Jane Coston]

Maybe even none of this is very subtle. And yet I have seen so many people completely unable to make the very clear connections between an extremely wealthy man and his clear and obvious viewpoints. Some have even claimed that his actions are because he's neurodiverse. No. And it's not just his weird double salute at the inauguration that you've probably seen on your for you page. It's a ton of his tweets and the people New Twitter under Musk algorithmically boosts in your timeline. It's a time that Elon responded to a user saying, quote, jewish communities have been pushing the exact kind of dialectical hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them. With, quote, you have said the actual truth. Remember when Elon visited Auschwitz before attending a conference on antisemitism last January? That tweet was why? So no, Elon's current love affair with the global far right is not because he's neurodiverse. He cannot simultaneously be one of the most powerful people on the face of the earth and our smallest little being too silly and joyful and too on the spectrum to know better. For one thing, that's one hell of a way to tell people with autism what you really think about them. If he's capable of running some of the biggest companies in the world and receiving tens of billions of dollars in government contracts, then he should also be capable of knowing what a Nazi salute looks like and not doing it. And definitely not joking about Nazi leadership on the Internet afterwards. With great power comes great responsibility, especially if you're Elon Musk. Before we go the next four years are going to be a challenge, but Dan Pfeiffer, co host of Pod Save America, is here to help cut through the media noise with his Message Box newsletter. In the months ahead, Dan will break down the 2024 election, dive into how Democrats can rebuild their coalition, and strategize how we can take on the right wing media machine. He'll also provide readers with guidance on where to volunteer, which campaigns matter most, and how to talk to persuadable voters about Trump's dangerous actions. Sign up now for a 30 day free trial of MessageBox at crooked.com yeswedan. That's all for today. If you like the show, make sure you subscribe, leave a review, don't be late to your own swearing in ceremony like our new Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noemi, and tell your friends to listen. And if you're also into reading and not just about how GNOME was so late. Vice President J.D. vance just left, which honestly Same like me. What a Day is also a nightly newsletter. Check it out and [e-mail] subscribe I'm Jane Coastin and what can I say? I hate lateness. Don't be late. Water Day is a production of Crooked Media. It's recorded and mixed by Desmond Taylor. Our associate producers are Raven Yamamoto and Emily Foer. Our producer is Michelle Aloy. We had production help today from Johanna Case, Joseph Dutra, Greg Walters, and Julia Claire. Our senior producer is Erica Morrison and our executive producer is Adrienne Hill. Our theme music is by Colin Gilliard and Kashaka. Our production staff is proudly unionized with the Writers Guild of America East.

[Paul Scheer]

Hey, I'm Paul Scheer.

[Jane Coston]

I'm June Diane Rayfield.

[Unnamed Speaker]

And I'm Jason Mantzoukis.

[Paul Scheer]

And we're the hosts of how did this Get Made? A comedy podcast where we deconstruct, make fun of, and celebrate the best worst movies ever made.

[Unnamed Speaker]

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[Unnamed Speaker]

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[Lindsey Graham]

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