DOGE ‘flopped’: Rep. Stansbury slams Musk, GOP over ‘complete joke’ of lack of real savings

Summary

Rep. Stansbury criticizes the GOP and Elon Musk for the Doge committee's failure to generate real savings and instead diverting focus to irrelevant issues like transgender athletes. The committee was originally formed to find ways to save taxpayer money but has been criticized for its ineffectiveness, especially since Doge has failed to make significant budget cuts. Rep. Stansbury argues that it has turned into a political sideshow, distracting from its true purpose, while causing harm to federal workers and failing to support critical services.

Highlights

• Rep. Stansbury slams the GOP and Musk for Doge’s failure to achieve real savings. 😡
• The committee digresses from its original focus, addressing irrelevant topics like transgender athletes in sports. 🤔
• Musk’s actions, including mass firings and data mining, are criticized for being ineffective. 💥

Key Takeaways

• The Doge committee is criticized for not achieving its original goal of saving taxpayer money and getting sidetracked with irrelevant issues like sports regulations. 🏴‍☠️
• Elon Musk and the GOP receive heat for the ineffective management and political diversion of the Doge committee's efforts. 🔥
• Rep. Stanbury and Democrats are pushing back against the failed initiatives of the committee by emphasizing the need to focus on issues that matter to the public. 🚀

Overview

Rep. Stansbury did not hold back her criticism toward Elon Musk and the Republicans regarding the failed initiatives of the Doge committee. Originally established to find efficient ways to save money and improve government functionality, the Doge has instead floundered, according to Stansbury, getting mired in unrelated issues such as the participation of transgender athletes in sports. This shift away from its core mission has frustrated Democrats but has been used as a political tool by its creators.

While Elon Musk painted a grand picture of generating massive budget cuts, the reality has been starkly different. The committee hasn’t just failed to fulfill Musk’s claims but has seen public opposition for the mass layoffs and data privacy concerns it apparently facilitated. Rep. Stansbury noted how the GOP and Musk are now reluctant to associate their names with Doge, claiming it's a distraction from real governing.

Despite the board's redirection, Democrats remain determined to address the consequences of Doge’s actions. Stansbury highlighted the devastating effects the committee's failures have had on federal employees and crucial public services. With legal battles and public outreach, Democrats aim to mitigate damage and hold the committee accountable, showcasing a commitment to standing by affected communities and rectify Musk’s alleged mishandling.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Opening Remarks and House Subcommittee Hearing Introduction The chapter discusses the chaotic start of a House Subcommittee hearing, focusing on a nonpoint of order. Despite interruptions and disputes over time, the speech reaffirms support for the LGBTQ+ community. The tension is highlighted by the persistence of voices supporting LGBTQ+ rights against formal procedural objections. The scene is set with a contentious atmosphere, indicative of the challenges faced during such hearings, accentuated by the refusal to be silenced despite the chair's attempts to restore order.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Transgender Athletes and Government Efficiency Controversy A hearing by the House Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency turned chaotic when discussions arose regarding the participation of transgender athletes in fencing competitions. This issue questioned the relevance to the subcommittee's focus on government efficiency, leading to controversy. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green defended the topic's inclusion, citing former President Trump's order that barred transgender women, suggesting a governmental link to the matter.
• 01:00 - 01:30: Congresswoman Melanie Stanbury on the Doge Enterprise Failures The chapter discusses a hearing attended by Congresswoman Melanie Stanbury, the ranking Democratic member from New Mexico, concerning issues within the Doge enterprise. The hearing, which was expected to focus on governmental waste, fraud, and abuse, ended up diverting to discussions on women's sports. Congresswoman Stanbury remarks on the apparent failure of the Doge enterprise in the past 100 days, suggesting that the hearing lost direction and failed to address critical issues.
• 01:30 - 02:00: Elon Musk's Unrealized Promises The chapter discusses the failure of Elon Musk to deliver on his promises, highlighting the widespread public disapproval of his actions. It mentions the mass firings, dismantling of agencies, data mining, and his pursuit of private contracts. As a result of these actions, two-thirds of Americans oppose him, and his influence contributes to the president's poor approval ratings. Additionally, even Republicans are hesitant to associate with him as they won't even mention his name.
• 02:00 - 02:30: Political Maneuvering and GOP Criticism The chapter titled 'Political Maneuvering and GOP Criticism' discusses how a committee, originally intended to address specific tasks, has become a platform for Republicans to focus on issues that resonate with their political base. The author suggests these issues do not necessarily relate to government efficiency. The text implies the Democrats are present and engaged, possibly suggesting a difference in focus or priorities between the parties. Overall, the chapter explores the theme of political strategy and its divergence from the committee's original purpose.
• 02:30 - 03:00: Government Spending Analysis and Further Critiques The chapter titled 'Government Spending Analysis and Further Critiques' explores various aspects of government budgeting and spending. It includes a discussion on the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community and the legislative attempts to address trans hate. The transcript suggests a tense interaction in a committee meeting where a chairwoman opposed views supporting the LGBTQ+ community. The chapter also delves into predictions and revisions regarding federal budget cuts, citing Elon Musk's initial $2 trillion cut prediction which was later adjusted to $1 trillion and subsequently to an indefinite amount.
• 03:00 - 03:30: Democrats' Defense and Continued Advocacy The chapter discusses the Democrats' position on government spending, highlighting projected savings and contrasting it with past increases in spending. The transcript mentions a Wall Street Journal analysis that reveals government spending has increased by $154 billion since Trump's inauguration compared to the same period in 2024. This raises questions about the success of government initiatives aimed at eliminating waste and saving taxpayer money, with skepticism about the effectiveness of these efforts.
• 03:30 - 04:00: Details on Musk's Agenda and Data Access The chapter discusses Elon Musk's ambitions for influencing government efficiency through a tech model. It mentions the perspective that Democrats are generally committed to modernizing government services, but it frames Musk's efforts as ideologically driven, aligned with his worldview. The transcript hints at Musk's interactions with Donald Trump, suggesting collaboration or influence.
• 04:00 - 04:30: Republicans' Budget Plans and Impacts The chapter titled 'Republicans' Budget Plans and Impacts' explores the fiscal policies implemented under Donald Trump's administration. It highlights the inefficiency and lack of success in creating fiscal efficiency, despite a significant budget allocation of nearly $300 million for campaign purposes. The transcript points out that rather than reducing spending, Trump's administration increased spending during the first 100 days, contradicting the aim of creating budget efficiency. At the same time, the administration withheld critical funding for global food aid programs, adversely affecting starving children worldwide.
• 04:30 - 05:00: Consequences of the Doge Initiative The chapter titled 'Consequences of the Doge Initiative' discusses the aftermath of certain political and financial maneuvers, specifically about Social Security services being reduced. This reduction occurs amidst withholding of crucial funding meant for community services, affecting basic needs for seniors and children. The narrative criticizes these actions as ineffectual. Additionally, it mentions Elon Musk's departure and anticipates his potential influence over the 'Doge Bros,' hinting at their likely exodus following a perceived failure. His departure, however, comes after having accessed valuable information, although the nature of this information remains unspecified.
• 05:00 - 05:30: Democrats' Countermeasures and Legal Efforts This chapter discusses the reaction of Democrats to specific budgetary and policy measures proposed by certain Republican figures, highlighting their disapproval and legal counteractions. It mentions a character named Doge, who is associated with significant new contracts that have garnered bipartisan disapproval. The text also refers to the pivot towards implementing plans through Donald Trump's budget, which has recently been introduced to Congress.
• 05:30 - 06:00: Closing Thoughts from Congresswoman Stanbury Congresswoman Stanbury expresses concern over efforts to dismantle significant social welfare programs like Medicaid, food assistance, and environmental initiatives. She emphasizes that these actions are made to support $7 trillion in permanent tax breaks for billionaires, an agenda she believes is historically a failure and rejected by the American public. Additionally, she criticizes the focus on issues like attacking trans kids and renaming the Gulf of Mexico, implying a prioritization of futile efforts over substantial policy making.

DOGE ‘flopped’: Rep. Stansbury slams Musk, GOP over ‘complete joke’ of lack of real savings Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 You took a minute of my time wasting my time on a nonpoint of order. The gentle lady's time is expired. I now recognize not running during the point of order. Your time was not wasted. And to the trans stand with you with the LGBTQ plus community. We stand with you and you can raise your eardrums all you want, Madam Chair, but we stand with the LGBTQ plus community and you can gavvel me till
• 00:30 - 01:00 order. This this hearing will come to order. All right. This week, a hearing on the House Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency, aka Doge, spiral into cha spiraled into chaos after the top Democrat on the committee called into question the intention of the hearings topic, transgender athletes participating in fencing competitions. The subcommittee chair, Congresswoman Marjgerie Taylor Green, said the topic was indeed tied to government efficiency because President Trump signed an order barring transgendered women from
• 01:00 - 01:30 competing in women's sports. Joining us now is the ranking Democratic member on that subcommittee, New Mexico Congresswoman Melanie Stanbury. Congresswoman, um, that hearing seemed to get a little off topic. Uh, why do we think Doge, you know, something that's supposed to look into ways, fraud, and abuse from the government, is now spending time looking into sports and what exactly prompted that heated exchange we just played? Yeah. Well, it's very clear that the entire Doge enterprise has completely flopped over the last 100 plus days.
• 01:30 - 02:00 we've seen is not only Elon Musk has failed to deliver on any of the promises he made, the American people have spoken up that they reject the way in which he's gone about it. The mass firings, the dismantling of agencies, the data mining of our sensitive data and setting himself up for private contracts. And now in his wake, we've got twothirds of Americans opposing him. The president's approval ratings are in the dumps in part because of Elon Musk and Doge. the Republicans won't even say his name in
• 02:00 - 02:30 public right now. And I think that's fascinating in a hearing and in a committee that was set up to do that bidding. And so what we saw this week was a complete distraction. Uh the Republicans are basically now using this committee to pivot to red meat issues that they think are going to give them some sort of, you know, political cadence with their uh political base that have literally nothing to do with government efficiency. And I think that the Democrats showed up with the
• 02:30 - 03:00 receipts. We showed up ready to defend and stand with the LGBTQ plus community and against trans hate. And the chairwoman didn't like that. And so she tried to gabble us down all committee, but we kept vigilant and we're doing the work of the American people. I do want to drill down into some of those numbers or the receipts as you were just talking about. So Elon Musk originally predicted $2 trillion in cuts to the federal budget. He then scaled that down to 1 trillion and then settled on somewhere
• 03:00 - 03:30 around 150 billion in projected savings for the 2026 fiscal year. That's about 2% of federal spending. Meanwhile, there's this Wall Street Journal analysis that finds government spending since Trump's inauguration is $154 billion more than during the same period in 2024. So, how can Doge justify its mission of eliminating government waste and saving taxpayer money? Do you think at this point it has been a complete failure? Oh, absolutely. I mean, I think
• 03:30 - 04:00 from the start it was a farce. And while I think Democrats at large are very much dedicated to making sure that the government is efficient and modernized and that we make changes to how we deliver services. It's very clear that Elon Musk had, you know, a dream one day about creating this uh effort to try to remake the federal government using a tech model and it within the ideological bounds of his ideas about the world and the worldview. And he gave Donald Trump,
• 04:00 - 04:30 you know, almost $300 million to fund his campaign. And so, sure, Donald Trump gave him cart blanch to go in there and do it. And it completely failed. He was unable to do anything that even resembled creating efficiency. And as you're pointing out and as these studies are pointing out, Donald Trump actually increased spending over his first 100 days over the last administration while they were withholding funding for food aid for children who were starving around the world. while they were
• 04:30 - 05:00 cutting back services at Social Security, while they were holding on to vital funding to help our communities do the basic services that our seniors and our children need. So, this has been a complete joke. And on his way out, as Elon Musk is headed out, and we don't know what's going to happen to the formal Doge Bros who are still there, but I suspect many of them will leave since it's been such an abject failure. You know, he's leaving with having accessed and analyzed the most valuable
• 05:00 - 05:30 data sets on planet Earth. And he's set himself up for billions of dollars in new contracts. But the American people don't want this. This is not what they voted for. Even Republicans overwhelmingly reject what Doge is doing. And it's very clear that the Republicans don't have a plan except for the nefarious plans that they're going to try to put into place through Donald Trump's budget. So Doge is now pivoting to Donald Trump's budget, which we saw delivered to Congress two weeks ago. And
• 05:30 - 06:00 we're seeing this unprecedented effort to dismantle Medicaid, food assistance, and environmental programs to give $7 trillion in tax breaks to billionaires permanently. So that's the only agenda they have. And it is so historically and absolutely a failure and rejected by the American people. They're holding hearings attacking trans kids and trying to rename the Gulf of Mexico. That's
• 06:00 - 06:30 their agenda. I mean, the issue is though, if it is, as you call it, a joke. The problem is it's had some very real consequences. I mean, we were just talking in the studio here about how many folks we all know here in DC who have been laid off, who don't know their status, who are sitting around trying to pay their bills. What are Democrats doing to fix that? You know, USA ID, I drove by it the other day. It's still shuttered. Some of these agencies are still not functioning. What are Democrats doing to solve this problem if it is as big of a problem as you say it is? Oh, absolutely. So, let me be clear.
• 06:30 - 07:00 I'm not calling the consequences a joke. What I'm calling a joke is the idea that Elon Musk was going to somehow magically fix the government. The consequences have been absolutely devastating for the United States, for our federal workers, for programs, for our international standing. And right now, we just saw a judge yesterday in a federal court in San Francisco rule that the executive order that Donald Trump signed that set much of this in motion has to be immediately halted. So, we are fighting
• 07:00 - 07:30 back in Congress using our oversight capabilities. We're fighting back in the courts. There's now over 200 court cases with over 140 court injunctions against the Trump administration. And we're fighting back and educating folks in our communities because at the end of the day, none of this has to happen. The Republicans are in the majority. All we need is four Republicans in the House to have a backbone and stand up for the Constitution and do their jobs and we could stop this now. So, it's really
• 07:30 - 08:00 important that we continue to organize in our communities, that people speak up and speak out, and Democrats are going to hold their feet to the fire and continue to do that work and to stop them at every step that we can. All right. Thank you, Congresswoman Melanie Stanbury. We're going to have to leave it there.