NEW: As Trump processed his split with Elon Musk Thursday night, he called the world's richest man "a big-time drug addict."
The implosion of their alliance was months in the making. Here's how we got here: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
NEW: A top House Democrat launched an investigation into Trump's meme coin dinner, demanding the president turn over the guest list
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
The White House says Trump is attending the meme coin dinner in his personal capacity. He traveled to and from the event on Marine One, transportation funded by taxpayers.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
NEW: The White House claims that Trump has secured trillions of dollars of deals during his swing through the Middle East. But at least half a dozen of those contracts were announced before he was president.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
New: One controversial option Trump's team has considered to avert TikTok's ban: Spinning the app into a new U.S. operation but leaving the algorithm under Chinese ownership wapo.st/44bUcv1 w/ @cqzakrz.bsky.social @naominix.bsky.social
Recently, we’ve seen reporters from all over the newsroom produce incredible journalism about the new administration. The Post today published an investigation into the $38 billion in government funding that underpins Elon Musk’s business empire: wapo.st/41uIOJ4
I will not tolerate any interference from our owner in my reporting. If that red line is ever crossed moving forward, I will quit and let you know.
Since I joined the newsroom in 2018, Bezos has never influenced my coverage of tech policy, politics or the White House. My colleagues and I have covered him and his businesses with the same accountability lens we apply to all tech leaders.
Jeff Bezos announced that the Washington Post opinion page will no longer publish viewpoints opposing personal liberties and free markets.
In light of this news, I want to emphasize that there is a strong firewall between opinion and news at our publication.
NEW: JD Vance will go to Europe next week for his first international trip as vice president. He'll attend the AI Action Summit in France and the Munich Security Conference.
NEW: President Trump signed an executive order to end "federal censorship" of social media. It could have a chilling effect on years of efforts to combat falsehoods online.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
NEW: Trump promised his inauguration address will have a “message of unity.” But he has a record of stepping on his own sunny promises of optimism with darkness and division.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Expect VCs and startups to be in DC to celebrate the inauguration. Peter Thiel is planning a party, and a Crypto Ball is scheduled for later this week.
At a luncheon at Mar-a-Lago in December, Sacks also committed to revoke the 2023 AI executive order, which was widely criticized by Andreessen Horowitz and other VC firms.
They're already seeing early wins. AI and crypto czar David Sacks is already working with industry leaders on a legislative strategy, and Trump is expected to issue crypto executive orders on Day One of his administration.
NEW: Marc Andreessen is recruiting people for positions across the Trump administration, including posts at DOD and intell agencies.
It's a sign of the influence VCs are having on the transition, advancing a "Little Tech" agenda.
w/ Jacqueline Alemany
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
From @anntelnaes.bsky.social: anntelnaes.substack.com/p/why-im-qui...
In 2024, Elon Musk dominated US politics. This year, he’s going global with the same playbook.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Have a very Trumpy Christmas with $38 advent calendars, $92 MAGA hat ornaments and $28 golden Trump wrapping paper.
This holiday season, Trump is personally profiting off of his upcoming term in a manner that is unprecedented in modern history.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
A very MAGA Christmas: $38 Trump Advent calendar, $95 Mar-a-Lago bauble, $86 “GIANT Trump Chocolate Gold Bar” — all proceeds benefit the Trump Organization www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
“How much is he going to use the presidency just to sell Trump products?” www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
France is truly rolling out the red carpet for Trump.
Foreign leaders who criticized Trump’s “America First” agenda are now scrambling to court him.
— Macron invited him to Notre Dame’s reopening
— Trudeau rushed to Mar A Lago for a meeting last month
— Zelensky and other world leaders are calling him
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Landed in Paris, where I’m covering Trump’s visit to Notre Dame.
During the blaze, French officials appeared to mock Trump’s recommendations to douse the flames with “flying water tankers.”
More than 5 years later, he’s here as a guest of honor.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
NEW: A month after securing the White House with populist promises to working class voters, Trump is stacking his administration with billionaires and ultra-wealthy business leaders.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
For more than 100 years, presidents have formed government efficiency commissions similar to Elon Musk's DOGE.
Many have been "abject failures."
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
4) @cqzakrz.bsky.social, @drewharwell.com, & @naominix.bsky.social dive into how the Trump campaign went all in on the "manosphere"
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
🚨 Big scoop: Trump team is considering using Elon Musk’s efficiency commission to slash spending unilaterally — without Congress needing to vote.
That’d set up a major constitutional showdown over the power of the purse.
— via @jeffstein.bsky.social, Lizzie Dwoskin, @cqzakrz.bsky.social + me
Trump allies aired claims of election fraud on podcasts ahead of the Jan. 6 attacks on the Capitol. But the medium has not received as much scrutiny as social media.
"The microphone is bigger, the audience is larger and the trust is even deeper," said Valerie Wirtschafter.
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