Michael Lewis stops by to talk his new book Blockers and explains that he wrote this book after The Fifth Risk led him to realize that the people inside government were remarkable characters doing important work, and when Trump’s second term began he saw a kind of “extinction event” in which the executive branch was being turned into a loyalist operation by driving out competent civil servants and dismantling the referees of the system. He says the book’s narrative came from following the logic of that attack—seizing power, eliminating inspectors general and other checks, then cutting contracts and firing probationary workers—while weaving together linked stories of federal employees whose work and lives revealed what had been lost. He also describes how hard it was to get these nonpartisan workers to talk, how many were traumatized but still puzzled by what had happened, and he singles out the Elon Musk/DOGE effort as disorganized, ignorant, and destructive, especially in its casual slashing of contracts and attacks on agencies like USAID and the Veterans Administration. Subscribe to Fast Politics and listen 4x a week for interviews just like this on your favorite podcast app: https://episodes.fm/1645614328

<p>Michael Lewis stops by to talk his new book Blockers and explains that he wrote this book after The Fifth Risk led him to realize that the people inside government were remarkable characters doing important work, and when Trump&rsquo;s second term began he saw a kind of &ldquo;extinction event&rdquo; in which the executive branch was being turned into a loyalist operation by driving out competent civil servants and dismantling the referees of the system. He says the book&rsquo;s narrative came from following the logic of that attack&mdash;seizing power, eliminating inspectors general and other checks, then cutting contracts and firing probationary workers&mdash;while weaving together linked stories of federal employees whose work and lives revealed what had been lost. He also describes how hard it was to get these nonpartisan workers to talk, how many were traumatized but still puzzled by what had happened, and he singles out the Elon Musk/DOGE effort as disorganized, ignorant, and destructive, especially in its casual slashing of contracts and attacks on agencies like USAID and the Veterans Administration. Subscribe to Fast Politics and listen 4x a week for interviews just like this on your favorite podcast app: https://episodes.fm/1645614328</p>

Join noted author & pundit Molly Jong-Fast for irreverent humor that cuts right to the heart of our politics today as she discusses the top political headlines with some of today’s best minds. Known for being one of the few interviewers in politics to cut through the talking points, Molly reveals the personalities and issues tearing the country apart. She asks the questions no one else does, and gets the answers even her guests didn’t expect to give – and exactly what you want to know. Tune in every Monday, Wednesday & Friday for the funniest yet serious look at what’s ailing America.

<p>Join noted author &amp; pundit Molly Jong-Fast for irreverent humor that cuts right to the heart of our politics today as she discusses the top political headlines with some of today’s best minds. Known for being one of the few interviewers in politics to cut through the talking points, Molly reveals the personalities and issues tearing the country apart. She asks the questions no one else does, and gets the answers even her guests didn’t expect to give – and exactly what you want to know. Tune in every Monday, Wednesday &amp; Friday for the funniest yet serious look at what’s ailing America.</p>

Fast Politics with Molly Jong-Fast

What Trump Really Did to WRECK Government w/ Michael Lewis

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/3ef33551-03d7-4105-81f7-b4db015fe351/transcript