Runtime: ~9 min | Hosts: Zongnan & Aiwei |

Producer: Liu Chang

Elon Musk is out after around 130 wild days leading Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Layoffs, fake savings, political clashes -- was it genius or chaos?

Highlights:

⏱️ 00:45 – Market Reaction: Praise, Punches, and Plummets

Quote: “Elon gave an incredible service. Nobody like him… he’s an incredible patriot.” – Trump

Trump praises Musk on his exit, even as Musk shows up with a bruised eye and a bruised portfolio. Tesla stock fell over 14% in 2025, with April seeing a massive 50% drop from January. The market seemed far less grateful.

⏱️ 01:42 – What Is DOGE, and What Did It Do?

DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) had nothing to do with crypto, despite the name. Musk oversaw mass layoffs—about 260,000 federal workers—and shut down over 40 programs. The “Are You Alive?” project drew headlines for flagging 3 million+ benefit recipients supposedly over age 120.

⏱️ 03:08 – Promises Kept? Or Just Paper Savings?

While Musk touted eye-popping savings, critics argue that losses in productivity, lawsuits, and rehiring costs painted a different picture. Of the $2 trillion in promised cuts, only a fraction materialized—and many canceled contracts were quietly reinstated.

⏱️ 04:15 – Public & Political Blowback

Quote: “I had my best review in January… but I got fired.” – Jennifer Piggott

Despite support from Trump’s inner circle, the public sentiment on Musk was mixed. An NBC poll shows 51% view him negatively. Meanwhile, Trump voters like Jennifer Piggott who lost her job under DOGE’s downsizing are starting to question the mission.

⏱️ 05:21 – Musk vs. Trump? Tensions Behind the Smiles

Quote: “I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly.” – Elon Musk

Though Musk and Trump appeared close—sharing stages and even a “golden key”—policy clashes were brewing. Musk criticized tariffs and Trump’s spending bill. Let’s not forget: Musk voted for Hillary in 2016 and Biden in 2020.

⏱️ 06:21 – Will There Be Another Elon Musk?

As Musk departs, critics warn of blurred lines between executive power and democratic process. Will DOGE become a permanent fixture of Trump’s administration? With Russ Vought stepping in, and congressional Republicans on board, the post-Musk DOGE era begins.

As the dust settles on the DOGE experiment, one question lingers: Was this a blip in American governance—or the new normal?

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