Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams
How Trump Is Selling Out America to Elon Musk artwork

How Trump Is Selling Out America to Elon Musk

Assembly Required with Stacey Abrams
56:14
Play episode

Show notes

A league of unextraordinary gentlemen has taken over the White House. This week, Stacey breaks down how Donald Trump has allowed Elon Musk and his squad of young DOGE staffers to have unprecedented access to the federal government. Wired editor Leah Feiger joins Stacey to explain how she and her team of reporters uncovered how DOGE infiltrated the Treasury department, the potential security and privacy implications, and how AI fits into the equation. Then, Stacey sits down with University of Pennsylvania law professor and Strict Scrutiny co-host Kate Shaw to tackle the question on everyone’s mind: how is any of this legal? Also, be sure to listen for a special message from Stacey on how to manage our response to crisis—so we can stay informed, cut through disinformation, and fight back. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast. We want to hear your questions. Send us an email at assemblyrequired@crooked.com or leave us a voicemail at 213-293-9509. You and your question might be featured on the show. Learn & Do More: To stay informed about everything that’s going on with Doge, Musk, and Trump’s billionaire bandits, make sure to follow the reporting from Leah and her incredible team at Wired, as well as the other news sites she shouted out like 404 Media, Teen Vogue, and Rolling Stone. If you want to continue to learn about the questionable legality of the Trump administration’s actions, listen to Strict Scrutiny, co-hosted by our amazing guest Kate Shaw. A critical way to use your voice is to uplift stories like the ones we covered so they don’t get drowned out in the intentional chaos. If this resonated with you, tell someone—a friend, relative, colleague—even post it to your socials. Don’t let stories like this fade. Support organizations like Democracy Forward, State Democracy Defenders, and The Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection that are filing lawsuits to challenge Musk's unprecedented government takeover.

More from this show

More
  1. The AI Apocalypse, Supreme Court Takeover, and JD Vance’s Next Move (w/ Alex Wagner)

    Is the AI apocalypse already underway and will we get meaningful regulation before it’s too late? How did the “four horsemen” of the right-wing legal movement lay the groundwork fo…

    E10001:11:22
  2. Why Everyone Should Love Star Trek (w/ Tawny Newsome)

    Happy Star Trek Day, to all those who celebrate! In honor of the show’s 60th anniversary, Stacey sits down with fellow super fan, actor, comedian, writer and host of the podcast St…

    E9958:09
  3. Inside the Fight Over Meta, Paramount and ICE

    What does the Meta case mean for the future of social media and how children use these platforms? Could the Paramount merger ultimately push the company out of California, putting…

    E9801:10:28
  4. Data Centers, Police Surveillance, and the Fight for Democracy (w/ Katie Phang)

    Can state legislation be the key to saving our democracy? Lawyer, political commentator, and host of the Sidebar podcast Katie Phang joins Stacey to unpack Americans’ growing frust…

    E9701:08:14
  5. Is the South the Future of Democratic Politics?

    Is the South the new epicenter of American politics? National Association of Black Journalists President, The 19th Editor-at-Large, and host of Crooked’s new podcast Long Play, Err…

    E9601:02:40
  6. Kamala Harris Says Voters Are Done with the Status QuoBonus

    What is the future of the Democratic Party? How will redistricting shape voters’ power in the South? What are the latest primary results telling us about the political moment we’re…

    E9552:12
Now Playing