Is Elon Building or Destroying?

Pantsuit Politics

Sarah & Beth

Society & Culture, Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 4.8K Ratings

🗓️ 21 February 2025

⏱️ 86 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Destruction can be part of the building process; it certainly is a key part of Elon Musk’s approach to business and his new - legally ambiguous - role with DOGE. There is, however, a fine line between disruption and destruction. The tech mantra of “move fast and break things” can be dangerous, particularly when applied to the government. On today’s show, Sarah and Beth explore this idea and how the new Trump administration is letting Musk run full steam ahead.

Plus, they discuss the Trump administration’s approach to foreign policy, most notably marked this week by Ukraine’s exclusion from the negotiating table with Russia. Outside of politics, Beth shares her new hack for managing her online shopping.

Topics Discussed

Ukraine Excluded from Negotiations
Is Elon Musk Building or Destroying Through DOGE?
Outside of Politics: Online Shopping Strategies

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Lemonada.
0:02.7	This is Sarah Stewart Holland.
0:14.3	This is Beth Silvers.
0:15.6	You're listening to Pantsuit Politics if you are new to our show.
0:19.0	Welcome.
0:20.0	We've been doing this for 10 years,
0:22.2	and we have learned to take a different approach to the news. We don't chase headlines, and we don't
0:27.4	lead on outrage. Doesn't mean we ignore our emotional reactions? We just try to work through those
0:32.1	together so that we can respond with curiosity and stay grounded and motivated instead of anxious and depleted.
0:39.2	And we're going to do that here for you today. We have both had very emotional reactions to the
0:44.2	president attacking Ukraine. So we're going to work through that first. Then we're going to slow down
0:49.2	and zoom out and talk about Doge and the federal government and whether we are building or destroying right now in America.
0:56.0	And as always, we will end our episode with a little exhale, what's on our mind outside of politics.
1:00.9	And today it's our new approach to online shopping.
1:04.6	As with every episode, our goal is not to convince you of anything. It's to invite you along as we process the news and discuss our
1:11.1	politics so that you can do the same with the people in your lives. If you like our show,
1:15.5	there is so much more for you on our substack. Yes, every morning from Monday through Thursday,
1:21.5	I host Good Morning. It's a short summary of what's happening in the headlines. Thursdays is
1:26.9	special. It's the good news brief.
1:29.5	And that's where I share positive trends, genuine good news that might have gotten missed.
1:34.3	I don't do like such and such town paid person medical bills. Not that that's not beautiful and
1:41.3	important, but I really try to find good news articles that have
	...

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