Last year, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency took a chainsaw to the federal government, slashing jobs and cutting programs in the name of eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse. While it did not reduce spending, current and former government officials tell CNN that some of the cuts are hampering government readiness amid the Iran war. Now, the government is looking to ramp up hiring again – but only with workers who align with the Trump administration’s priorities. We hear from a former federal worker about how last year’s cuts impacted her, and from an expert who says he's concerned about adding more political appointees to the mix. 

For more: ‘A shell of our former self’: How Trump and Musk’s spending cuts are hampering US government readiness amid the Iran war 

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Guests: Melissa Patsalides & Max Stier, Partnership for Public Service President and CEO 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin 

Editorial Support: Tami Luhby

Photo: Allison Robbert/AFP/Getty Images

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The war in Iran has effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for transporting roughly 20% of the world’s oil. As a result, ships are stuck and gas prices are climbing in the US. We look at the Trump administration’s possible solutions, and the key psychological benchmark that could push their political problem to a breaking point. 

For more: The grim choice facing the Trump administration: Economic or naval collapse? 

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Guests: Martín Izaguirre Salgado & David Goldman, CNN Business Senior Reporter 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin 

Editorial Support: Vanessa Yurkevich

Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

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Anger directed at OpenAI is spreading after it struck a deal with the Pentagon to use its AI models in classified systems, just hours after its rival, Anthropic, refused. OpenAI said it had shared Anthropic’s concerns about mass surveillance and autonomous weapons, so why did they sign? And what does this mean for other companies looking to do business with the Trump administration? 

For more: Some OpenAI staff are fuming about its Pentagon deal 

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Guests: Hadas Gold, CNN AI Correspondent & Dean Ball, Senior Fellow at The Foundation for American Innovation 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin

Photo: WH Pool

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As Iran continues to retaliate against the US and Israel, civilians in major Gulf countries are caught in the crossfire. Will these nations be forced to respond? And do they have the military firepower needed to keep up? We break down what we can learn from the military operations thus far and look at how an Iranian power vacuum could complicate the endgame. 

For more: The rationale for striking Iran was already a mess. Trump just made it worse. 

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Guests: Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Chief International Security Correspondent & Mark Kimmitt, Brigadier General (Ret.) 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin 

Editorial Support: Natasha Maguder, Natalie Wright

Photo: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images

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After months of planning, the US and Israel struck Iran as part of a massive operation aimed at unseating the hardline Iranian regime. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes, according to Israeli sources. Iran has retaliated, hitting US military bases and major population centers across the region. So how long will the conflict last? And is regime change even feasible? We break down what we know as of Saturday afternoon. 

For more: Trump launches the regime-change effort in Iran that he pledged to avoid 

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Guest: Natasha Bertrand, CNN Correspondent 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin

Photo: AP

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The killing of Mexican cartel boss Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes shocked the country and set off cartel violence in the streets, trapping American tourists in the process. However, experts say the operation could say even more about President Donald Trump’s war on drugs than Mexico’s. 

For more: The death of ‘El Mencho’ exposed the reach of Mexico’s cartel crisis. Will US tourists stay away? 

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Guest: Steven Dudley, InSight Crime co-founder 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin

Photo: @morelifediares via REUTERS

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Victims of Jeffrey Epstein say the historic arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the brother of King Charles III, is a step in the right direction. But high-profile figures in the US still have not faced similar consequences, weeks after the Justice Department released more than 3 million documents related to the late financier and convicted sex offender. We hear from a group of survivors who say this feels like the beginning of the story, not the end. 

For more: ‘This is not over.’ Corporate America’s Epstein reckoning gathers steam 

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Guest: MJ Lee, CNN Senior National Enterprise Correspondent 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin 

Editorial Support: Nicky Robertson

Photo: Kent Nishimura/Reuters

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A raft of resignations from some of Silicon Valley’s top AI companies came with some dire warnings about user safety and potential impacts on the American workforce. Are these concerns worth paying attention to, or overhyped? We hear from one former safety researcher who says companies are not fully grappling with the implications of advertising within chatbots. 

For more: AI researchers are sounding the alarm on their way out the door 

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Guest: Zoë Hitzig, former OpenAI researcher 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Senior Producer: Faiz Jamil 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin 

Editorial Support: Hadas Gold

Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

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"I am trying every breath that I have so that I can get you what you need." Those words from ICE attorney Julie Le to a federal judge earlier this month underscores the toll the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown in Minneapolis is taking on the Justice Department. But what happens now that the surge is winding down? And will any new prosecutors want to sign up for this work? 

For more: Trump’s immigration approach is gumming up the courts, frustrating his Justice Department and judges 

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Guest: Doug Kelley, former Assistant US Attorney 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin 

Editorial Support: Katelyn Polantz

Photo: Steve Karnowski/AP

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At the Winter Olympics in Italy, American athletes are speaking out, Vice President JD Vance was booed, and some locals are protesting against ICE. Some are asking if the US has achieved “villain” status. Experts say moments like these underscore the loss of American standing on the world stage under President Donald Trump. But is this a brand problem, or something deeper? 

For more: Trump’s growing volatility is putting the world on edge 

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Guest: Stephen Collinson, CNN Senior Reporter 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin

Photo: Amber Searls / Imagn Images

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