logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2025
12m 32s

Swamp Notes: Where does Musk fit in Maga...

Financial Times
About this episode

Elon Musk’s first big foray into politics was a success — he used his world-leading fortune and mass media platform to help Donald Trump regain the White House. But now, just weeks before Trump’s inauguration, some Republicans are pushing back against Musk’s influence. The FT’s Washington correspondent Joe Miller and US business and politics correspondent Alex Rogers join this week’s Swamp Notes to discuss how Musk is navigating a future in Washington. 


Mentioned in this podcast:

Top Democrats warm to Elon Musk’s US government cost-cutting mission

Elon Musk’s fight with Maga reveals split on immigration within Trump’s circle

Sign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter here


Swamp Notes is mixed by Samantha Giovinco and produced by Ethan Plotkin, Sonja Hutson, Lauren Fedor and Marc Filippino. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. 


CREDIT: Bannons_WarRoom/X


Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Aug 22
The return of ‘pump and dump’ stock scams
EU officials are accelerating plans for a digital euro, and the US Department of Justice has called for Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook to be removed from her post. Plus, investors lost billions of dollars in July in what could be pump and dump stock scams. Mentioned in this p ... Show More
11m 4s
Aug 21
Can Target get its ‘swagger’ back?
Chinese regulators are pushing back against US AI chips, Target shares fell more than 6 per cent after the retail group picked an insider to be its new chief executive, and UK inflation accelerated more than expected to 3.8 per cent in July. Plus, China is making a big push for v ... Show More
11m 36s
Aug 20
What to expect from Jay Powell’s Jackson Hole speech
US tech stocks sold off on Tuesday, and Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell will be between a rock and a hard place when he delivers his speech at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium this Friday. Plus, Ozempic-maker Novo Nordisk has fallen behind its rivals. Does it have a pl ... Show More
11m 19s
Recommended Episodes
Jun 11
Elon and Trump need space
Vox’s Joshua Keating explains why the US government can’t have a big, beautiful breakup with Elon Musk. And now that he’s left DOGE, Elaine Kamarck from Brookings explains what happens to it. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy with help from Denise Guerra, edited by Amina ... Show More
29m 32s
Apr 2025
Is Elon Musk leaving the White House?
There was a bright spot for Democrats this week after a liberal judge beat her conservative rival in the most expensive judicial election in US history. Susan Crawford beat Brad Schimel despite being backed by President Donald Trump's billionaire adviser Elon Musk. The results ca ... Show More
32m 56s
Apr 2025
Elon Musk and Donald Trump Are Finally (Maybe) Breaking Up
When protesters converged this past weekend across America, they seized on two central villains: Donald Trump and Elon Musk. On this episode, host and Vanity Fair editor-in-chief Radhika Jones, along with executive editor Claire Howorth and Hive editor Michael Calderone, discuss ... Show More
37m 4s
Apr 2025
Is Elon Musk Buying Today’s Election in Wisconsin?
On paper, the election in Wisconsin on Tuesday is about who should control the state’s highest court. In reality, it has become a referendum on Elon Musk, his agenda in Washington and his willingness to flood American politics with his money.Reid J. Epstein, who has been covering ... Show More
27m 53s
Jul 3
Trump v Musk round 2: One Big Beautiful Bill
Donald Trump and Elon Musk are trading blows again after Musk criticised the President’s ‘big, beautiful’ tax and spending bill. Trump has threatened to deport the world’s richest man and set his Doge 'monster' on him. So why does Musk hate the bill, and could this push him to se ... Show More
25m 38s
Jun 6
Why Musk Picked This Fight With Trump
P.M. Edition for June 6. As the dust settles from the blowup between President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, Republicans choose sides even as some are asking why one of the most consequential alliances in modern American politics had to end this way. We hear from congressional ... Show More
12m 3s
Jun 6
Why Musk Picked This Fight With Trump
P.M. Edition for June 6. As the dust settles from the blowup between President Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, Republicans choose sides even as some are asking why one of the most consequential alliances in modern American politics had to end this way. We hear from congressional ... Show More
13m 53s
Aug 2024
CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell, 08/13/24
United Auto Workers has filed federal charges against Elon Musk and Former President Trump after they spoke of striking workers last night. The Trump campaign has called the suit a political stunt. Robert, we also have some new details on key speakers, at least initially, announc ... Show More
25m 18s
Feb 2025
Elon Musk's DOGE Takes Control Of Federal Spending
Elon Musk is keeping his campaign promise of trying to cut $2 trillion of federal spending through his unit, DOGE. After some questions about his role, the White House announced that he is now a "special government employee." What has Musk been able to accomplish thus far? This e ... Show More
15m 3s
Feb 2025
Is Elon a Drag on Trump?
Elon Musk holds a rambling Oval Office press conference and admits that he and DOGE will make mistakes as they rampage through our government, even as congressional Republicans move forward with a budget that promises massive cuts to healthcare, education, and food assistance to ... Show More
1h 26m