Why Government Cuts Are About to Ramp Up

Ahead of a March 13 deadline for federal agencies to submit reductions in force plans, one agency in particular has drawn the attention of Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency: The Social Security Administration. We explore why advocates fear crucial outdated technology is ripe for outages which could put vulnerable Americans at risk.

Guest: Tami Luhby, CNN Senior Writer

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Democrats continue to struggle with being an effective opposition party in a Washington under full Republican control. Ahead of a looming government shutdown, we hear from one lawmaker who thinks they’re “getting there.” Will voters buy it?

Guest: Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL)

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As President Donald Trump reshapes international relations and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency continues to gut the federal workforce, CNN wanted to know how his most diehard supporters feel about Trump 2.0. We found some are willing to tolerate potential financial hardship – but for how long?

Guests: Elle Reeve, CNN Correspondent

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As a measles outbreak continues to grow in West Texas, questions are mounting over the quality of federal response, as Health and Human Services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. downplays the outbreak’s severity. We ask a Houston doctor if he’s expecting a major livestock show to bring more measles cases to his city. Meanwhile, experts fear disrupted meetings about vaccines could threaten timelines and transparency from health officials around other key shots.

Guests: Meg Tirrell, CNN Medical Correspondent & Dr. Wesley Long, Director of Microbiology at Houston Methodist Hospital

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Some progressive groups are calling for an ‘economic blackout’ on Friday, urging Americans not to purchase anything from major retailers in protest of corporate greed and Trump administration actions. But what could it accomplish? We examine why similar calls to boycott companies retreating from DEI policies could have unintended consequences.

Guest: Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Business Reporter

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As the Trump administration works to carry out its mass deportation operation, undocumented immigrants without criminal records fear being caught up in potential raids at schools, churches, or other places in their communities. In this episode, we hear from people doing what they can to fight back.

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As US and Russian officials meet about the war in Ukraine - without Ukraine - European leaders are feeling similarly sidelined. Meanwhile, Germany’s controversial far-right party could make major gains in elections on Sunday – and Elon Musk is cheering them on.

Guest: Sebastian Shukla, CNN Producer

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If you’ve been to the grocery store recently, you know egg prices are through the roof (if you can even find any). We explore how a growing avian flu outbreak is frustrating farmers and hindering President Donald Trump’s plans to lower prices.

Guests: Doug Corwin, President of Crescent Farms & Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Business and Politics Correspondent

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As many of President Donald Trump’s sweeping executive actions get challenged in court, some on the right are suggesting his presidential power could exceed certain legal rulings. We examine the implications of ignoring court orders and what could put us on a path towards a constitutional crisis.

Guest: Paula Reid, CNN Chief Legal Affairs Correspondent

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Many aid programs around the world have been paralyzed in the wake of the Trump administration’s 90-day pause on foreign aid. We hear how an Elon Musk-led effort to dismantle the US Agency for International Development (USAID) is already having ramifications at home and abroad.

Guests: Teddy Ruge & Brian Aliganyira

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Some federal employees are on edge as Elon Musk continues his work on behalf of President Donald Trump to overhaul the federal government in unprecedented ways. We examine just how sweeping his actions are and why resistance to them is growing.

Guest: Zachary Wolf, CNN Politics Senior Writer

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In the days since the deadly midair collision outside Washington DC, questions are being asked about what could have contributed to the tragedy. We hear from an expert who says the push for more flights isn’t making jobs easier for a workforce already stretched thin.

Guest: David Soucie, CNN Safety Analyst/Author, ‘Safer Skies’
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Wall Steet, Washington, and Silicon Valley are scrambling after a little-known Chinese startup claimed its artificial intelligence model can operate like ChatGPT at just a fraction of the cost. We examine why the breakthrough could reverberate beyond the tech sector as President Donald Trump looks to counter China's influence.

Guest: Matt Egan, CNN Reporter
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Employees in federal diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility offices have been placed on paid leave amid of flurry of actions from the new Trump administration aimed at reshaping the federal workforce. We examine the backlash to DEI in recent years and how it could impact businesses across the country.

Guest: Rene Marsh, CNN Correspondent
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President Donald Trump issued a slew of executive actions after taking office for the second time on Monday. We examine which ones are having an immediate impact and what they can tell us about what the next four years may bring.

Guest: Betsy Klein, CNN Senior White House Producer
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As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take power for a second time, we hear from two government workers who have mixed feelings about potentially being on the receiving end of his campaign promises.
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Hamas and Israel have reached an agreement on a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza, providing hope to war-weary Palestinians and family members of Israeli hostages. However, implementation could prove challenging and grim.

Guest: Jeremy Diamond, CNN Jerusalem Correspondent
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President-elect Donald Trump has not let up on recent suggestions that the US should retake the Panama Canal. While the idea has been rejected by the Panamanian government, officials working at the canal are not laughing it off.

Guest: Phil Mattingly, CNN Chief Domestic Correspondent
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The deadly wildfires in Los Angeles have caused unimaginable devastation, especially for those who least expected it. We hear from two longtime Angelenos about the memories they made in their homes, and what comes next now that they’ve been reduced to rubble.

Guest: Courtney Kay Kirsh & Anthony Lewis
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The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on Friday in a case that could decide whether a ban on TikTok is allowed to go into effect later this month. We break down the arguments on both sides and whether President-elect Donald Trump has any power to save the platform – years after trying to ban it himself.

Guest: Clare Duffy, CNN Business Reporter
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