Ep. 203: DOGE--Dismantling Our Government Entirely

Note to listeners: we recorded this about a month ago, so of course things have worsened.

EQ: How does the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) exemplify the dangers of unchecked executive power, and what are the legal and democratic consequences of its overreach?

In this episode, we unpack the strange and sweeping saga of DOGE—no, not the meme coin, but Trump’s rebranded tech task force aimed at “modernizing” the federal government. What started as a quiet Obama-era initiative under the OMB has now morphed into a mysterious Silicon Valley bro-squad operating directly under the Executive Office of the President. With mass firings, lawsuits from 18 states, and wild stories involving 90 beers and zero critical thinking, we’re asking: What exactly is DOGE? Is it constitutional? Who’s really in charge—and can the courts keep up? From firings of inspectors general to stalled humanitarian aid and lawsuits flying from every direction, this episode attempts to survey the mess of  legal battles, power grabs, and digital disruption defining one of the most quietly dangerous moves of this administration.

Resources Referenced in the conversation:

• GSAi has automated the jobs of over 1500 employees so far.

• Fired APPROXIMATELY 376,000 Federal employees 

• Firing of 18 Inspectors Generals -

• Fired Justice department employees 

• Closing Federal Buildings 

• What is DOGE really up to

• Radical Reform or Reckless Chaos

• Federal Unions have filed multiple lawsuits tackling multiple avenues at this point - most recent being this Friday evening asking for an emergency stop on DOGE access to federal employees Social Security information.

• 18 States have filed a lawsuit against the trump administration over violations of federal law in the mass firings.

• Top notable cases in court right now to keep an eye on - Trump Administration hit with over 100 lawsuits since Inaugration:

• Washington State is known for challenging the Trump administration

• Federal Worker Firings

• Coalition of Attorneys General v. Trump Administration- New York et al. v. Scott Bessent et al.

  Withholding of Federal Funds; National Endowment for Democracy v. Trump Administration

• Birthright Citizenship Restrictions-State of Washington v. Trump

• Environmental Funding Freeze - Climate United Fund v. EPA and Citibank

• Tribal Education Employment Cuts - Native American Tribes and Students v. Trump Administration; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Policies; National Urban League v. Trump; San Francisco AIDS Foundation v. Trump

• Transgender Healthcare Restrictions- PFLAG v. Trump; Washington State v. Trump

Champagne & Real Paine:

🥂On Tyranny Tim Snyder

🥂Brooke Harrington Trump's “Broligarchy” of Tech Billionaires

👎🏻 The guy pouring beer over ice

👎🏻The dem party can’t get themselves together

Do Your Fudging Homework:

• Hope: Find some orgs–use your egg money to support 

• Megan: You only need to check the news once a day. Choose a reputable source (NPR, BBC, etc.). Also, contact your members of Congress AND contact any members from swing districts around you and communicate your concerns and ask for direct action in stopping Trump. 

• Annie: Fight the Fasch—drink water, get some sleep, eat something healthy and get a little exercise.