Donald Trump, facing terrible coverage, softens tone and tactics for Elon Musk’s DOGE crusade

The‘Outnumbered’panelreactstothemedia’scelebrationoftheSpaceXrocketfailuresasElonMuskcontinuestofacescrutinyoverhisroleatDOGEtocurbwastefulgovernmentspending. Mostpeoplethinkofgovernmentworkersaspartofafacelessbureaucracywithcushyandclearlyuselessjobs. Nowit’struethatthefederalworkforceisbloatedandneedstobetrimmed.ButthepoliticsofElonMusk’smassfiringsareshifting,promptingPresidentTrumptosoftenhisapproachtotheDOGEcampaign. Amajorfactorinthisevolutionisthenegativemediacoverage,whichTrumpfollowswithgreatinterest.It’snoaccidentthathesaidtheotherdaythebudgetcutbacksshouldbedonewitha“scalpel”andnota“sledgehammer.”He’sacutelyattunedtothegrowingbacklashagainstthemassivelayoffs–whichinclude80,000atVeteransAffairs.   Manyofthestories,ontelevisionandinprint,followaformula:LeadoffwithonepersonwhohasbeenbootedornegativelyimpactedbytheMuskbros.Thatputsafaceto