NEW: Biden’s OMB Director responds to Trump’s OMB directing agencies to prepare RIFs in event of shutdown: “A negotiation, a real one, has to happen,” Shalanda Young tells me. “In what world do you ask people for their votes without sitting down and having a conversation with them?” t.co/C275xnPTGX

SCOOP: The White House budget office is instructing federal agencies to prepare reduction-in-force plans for mass firings during a possible government shutdown, according to a memo obtained by Politico. www.politico.com/news/2025/09...

DOGE is plowing on without Elon Musk, according to Rep. Pete Sessions. “They meet on a regular basis. They are made up of professionals who have a mission. They are people who sincerely want to change the system," he told our @sophiacai.bsky.social. More: politi.co/3Iqv3Ei

NEW: U.S. host cities are confronting FIFA about the cost of hosting the World Cup including Fan Festivals. LA organizers are considering their own watch parties beyond FIFA’s control, and FIFA has countered with threats to deny public-viewing licenses. t.co/CDfI89O2ej

Trump is pushing for Fed control. Our @sophiacai.bsky.social explores what could happen next 👇

Scoop: DOGE has brought on at least three foreign nationals including an Uruguayan X employee and two Canadians who did stints at Airbnb to cut federal spending and make the government more efficient, a dynamic that has angered some inside the White House. www.politico.com/news/2025/08...

NEW: Donald Trump’s encroachment on Congress’ power of the purse has raised increasing alarm in courts and the Capitol — but a crucial legal. victory today may help him stave off challenges. w/ @sophiacai.bsky.social and crew. www.politico.com/newsletters/...

NEW: The White House has conducted a de-Muskification of GSA by detailing over nine employees, most of whom have ties to the first Trump administration — not to Musk’s world. www.politico.com/news/2025/07...

Trump ally is launching a super PAC called FSD PAC to counter Musk A play on Tesla’s “full self-driving,” it stands for Full Support for Donald Will spend in races where Musk backs a 3rd party hopeful or primary challenger by @sophiacai.bsky.social‬ www.politico.com/news/2025/07...

a real headline I filed today

When Lori Chavez-DeRemer served in Congress, she was honored for championing the Job Corps program. As Labor Secretary, she’s initiating a full-scale shutdown of the $1.7B program that trains & houses 25k low-income youth each year. w/ @nickniedz.bsky.social www.politico.com/newsletters/...

It’s Friday with @waytooearly.bsky.social: ☀️ @sophiacai.bsky.social ☕️ Matt Gorman 🌞 @jonathankott.bsky.social 🫖 @brandonwolf.bsky.social 🌅 @allieevolpe.bsky.social Why are you ending your week awake with us? Reply here or email [email protected]. #WayTooEarly

🚨🚨100 days of DOGE: — 250,000 workers exiting — 11 agencies gutted — 64 lawsuits filed — $160B in claimed savings — 8,500 contracts + 10,000 grants killed Yet government spending is still higher than last year. t.co/spexOMt2rR

NEW: The Trump administration has just placed the entire AmeriCorps agency (except a few senior leaders) on administrative leave

How Musk’s influence will endure - DOGE insiders feel their work is far from finished & most are political appointees, not SGEs - Musk’s installed many chief info officers across agencies - Beyond cutting, DOGE will consolidate gov and help set policy www.politico.com/news/2025/04...

News: In a private meeting with Senate Finance staff, RFK Jr. expressed openness to progressive proposals for using march-in rights and compulsory licensing to lower drug prices w @sophiacai.bsky.social: www.politico.com/news/2025/01...

Trump gets specific on tariffs: A tariff of 25% on all goods coming from Canada and Mexico would take effect on Jan. 20 Imports from China would face a 10% tariff "above any additional Tariffs," he wrote. www.axios.com/2024/11/26/t...

NEW: Friction between Elon Musk & longtime Trump advisor Boris Epshteyn led to a “massive blowup” at dinner at Mar-a-lago last week. It was no surprise to senior staffers who've seen tension between the two bubble up during transition meetings. t.co/oXieLCamzp