The ‘blockers’ who stood up to Elon Musk’s Doge
Summary
Michael Lewis discusses his new book, Blockers, which chronicles the Trump administration's aggressive dismantling of the US civil service through the Department of Government Efficiency. The episode highlights specific incidents, including the hostile takeover of the Institute of Peace and the illegal release of IRS data to ICE, illustrating how inexperienced "Doge" operatives bypassed legal protections. Lewis argues that these actions have caused significant harm to public trust and essential services, though he suggests the backlash may eventually restore a nonpartisan workforce.
Topics discussed
Introduction and sponsor read
Colin O'Brien and the Institute of Peace
Doge's hostile takeover of the building
Police flip and O'Brien's firing
Context: The massive power grab
Michael Lewis introduction and book 'Blockers'
Why Lewis chose this story
The dedication of civil servants
Creation of Doge and Elon Musk's role
Doge's goal: Cutting $2 trillion
The 'Muskrats': Young, ignorant staff
Doge's methods: Firing and contract cuts
Targeting probationary workers
Transition to the Institute of Peace story
The importance of the Institute of Peace
Colin O'Brien's character and background
The standoff and the 'battles'
Exposing an intelligence asset
Musk's reaction and the truth of the claims
The 'five bullet points' email incident
IRS data leak and Kathleen Walters
How they overcame resistance
Doge's failure and aftermath
Sponsor reads and documentary promo
Doge's influence on UK politics
Devil's advocate: Bureaucracy vs efficiency
Assessing the damage and future outlook
Outro and credits
Final sponsor read
Listen ad-free on Castria