Five things I did last week in case Elon Musk asks

Plus, a live chat for tomorrow's address to Congress by Trump, and other stories in the works.

One day I won’t have to spend as much time here as I do.

We’ve all had a boss like Elon Musk. A guy who through some strange circumstances of luck, personality and manipulation has somehow made it to the top of the food chain despite many around them not understanding why. He’s a doofus. He’s awkward. He’s mean and not very smart. And yet, he’s in charge. Adding to the confusion of this phenomenon is why so many working class Americans support Musk and his dismantling of the federal government.

As I sit here at 11:37 p.m. on a Sunday night, I don’t quite have the brain power left to unpack that odd development at the moment, but I thought I would at least share with you some of the things I’ve done this week. I’ll keep the list to just five things, because that’s apparently what Musk thinks is the marker of productivity.

If you appreciate the work I’m doing here at American Doom, please consider a paid subscription for as little as $5 a month, or contributing to our Doom Coffee Fund. Finally, I’ll be hosting a live chat for Donald Trump’s address to Congress tomorrow night. Look for an email in your inbox around 8 p.m. EST and join us. Onward - jg

One

I blew a hole in the clear con that DOGE is somehow finding fraud that’s saving taxpayers money. You can read that story at Aaron Rupar’s Public Notice. The short version: Musk is coming for Social Security and Republicans will support him. Since my story came out a week ago today, Musk has doubled down on his attacks on Social Security, which appear to be occurring as he tries to understand what it does and how it works in real time.

Despite the hype, DOGE hasn't found a shred of fraud

Two

I spoke to Decolonized Journalism’s Arturo Dominguez about militarization of immigration enforcement. Then, over the weekend, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced an increase of troops and equipment to the border to deal with the non-existent threat of migrant hordes.

Extremism and militarization of immigration enforcement, with Arturo Dominguez

Three

I broke down the Trump-Zelenskyy debacle at the White House. Amid all the madness I haven’t yet found the time to make the most obvious point about all of Trump’s aggression toward Zelenskyy and Ukraine: Trump is still punishing Ukraine and its president for their role (as a victim) in Trump’s first impeachment scandal. No limit to the pettiness.

Cowardice disguised as strength: Trump and Vance bully Zelenskyy—and what you can do about it

Four

As the Trump-Zelenskyy nightmare was blowing up, I caught up with British writer and journalist Daniel Bates about UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to the White House—and what it means for European support for Ukraine.

Negotiating with a madman, with Daniel Bates

Five

I spoke to two friends of Teresa Borrenpahl, an Idaho woman who was accosted by private security at a GOP town hall. The sheriff—who I’ve discovered is an adherent of far-right belief systems—filmed the ordeal and refused to help, even threatening Borrenpahl. That story will be up at Public Notice in the coming hours or days.

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