Mass layoffs at federal agencies prompt questions about Elon Musk's influence President Trump has given Elon Musk's DOGE group virtually unfettered access to federal agencies. Meanwhile, mass layoffs at federal agencies this week are prompting questions about Musk's influence. Stephen Fowler
Unease grows at the CDC as Trump administration keeps grip on research, messaging CDC employees can no longer publish documents without review by the executive branch, and must withdraw their names from external papers pending publication. Pien Huang
Gov. Ferguson concerned Trump cuts will worsen WA budget woes Washington’s budget is already in a tight spot, and Democratic state officials say Trump’s federal spending cuts could make it much worse. Jeanie Lindsay
Protesters rally against Musk outside Seattle Tesla dealership About two dozen protesters gathered outside a Tesla dealership Thursday afternoon in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood, decrying CEO Elon Musk’s new role in the White House. Organizers say it’s part of a nationwide boycott and more events are planned. Casey Martin
For your ears only: The politics of privacy What do you have a right to? Your data? Your gender presentation? Your child’s health information? We talk through what the implications of privacy policies, and what lawmakers are proposing to do about it, on this week’s episode of Sound Politics. Scott Greenstone
Sweeping cuts hit recent federal hires as Trump administration slashes workforce Employees across several agencies, including the Office of Personnel Management, the Department of Education and Department of Energy, have all been affected, with many being given notice Thursday. Andrea Hsu
Trump's pick to lead the Bureau of Land Management is a petroleum industry lobbyist President Trump's nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management, which oversees a lot of domestic energy production, is a petroleum industry lobbyist who contributed to Project 2025. Caitlyn Kim
3 top U.S. prosecutors resign over order to drop NYC Mayor Eric Adams corruption case The acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and two top Justice Department officials in Washington, D.C., resigned after the case against New York City's mayor war order dropped. Carrie Johnson
Drive a Tesla and have big feelings about it? KUOW wants to hear from you KUOW wants to know what it's been like to drive a Tesla around the Seattle area during this time of sweeping and contentious political change. Get in touch with KUOW politics reporter Scott Greenstone via email at sgreenstone@kuow.org to share your experience. Scott Greenstone
Why Mitch McConnell voted against RFK Jr. for health secretary A survivor of childhood polio, Sen. Mitch McConnell was the only Republican in the Senate to vote no. Here's how he explained his vote. Carmel Wroth