ICYMI: Larson Joins The World with Yalda Hakim to Discuss ‘DOGE’ Chaos and The Need for Accountability from Elon Musk and Donald Trump

“And while Trump continues to say that he's not going to touch Social Security or Medicare, Elon Musk is on Larry Kudlow and every other talk show talking about how it's necessary to privatize these agencies because that's where more than 70% of the budget exists in Medicare, Social Security, and the national defense program. And for the United States Congress not to do its job, and hold him accountable, and bring Elon Musk before us is absurd,” said Larson. “I think Elon Musk is fascinated with his new power. For him to appear with chainsaws on TV is disgusting because he feels like he doesn't have to be accountable or come before this democracy. Our preamble starts off to the Constitution with 'We the People,’ and ‘We the People’ demand that he come forward and give us the answers.”   

You can view the full transcript below: 

Yalda Hakim: Democratic Congressman John Larson made headlines last week for accusing his Republican colleagues on the Ways and Means Committee of allowing the president and Elon Musk to make such radical changes. Have a listen.  

Rep. Larson:  You will do whatever Elon Musk and Donald Trump tell you to do. Where's the independence of the committee? Where's the legislature? We're an equal branch of government, and you start off with a blather, and yet, look at the empty seats here. Where's Elon Musk?  I'm sure he's a genius and is a very credible person because of the wealth he's accumulated, but that does not put him above the law or the responsibility to come before this committee in this Congress. If he's so great, if these plans and all the fraud and abuse that he found are so imminent, why isn't he here explaining it? You know why! Because he's out to privatize! 

Yalda Hakim: Well, Congressman John Larson joins me now. Congressman, thank you so much for joining us here on the program. I mean, clearly there was a lot of anger there that you were you were showing. Just talk us through that moment.  

Rep. Larson: Yeah, Look, a little blood pressure, right? Well, listen, Yalda, I think that in your opening statements as well, there's no question. And, you know, that Trump is a master of distraction, number one, and so he puts out repeatedly these things that infuriate — today's latest, Department of Education, etc. And everybody, including the media, will be scurrying this way. He cares about one thing, and that's what he's brought Elon Musk on for as well.   
 
He wants to take that $2 trillion tax cut and make it permanent. It ends, and it expires this year, in 2025. It's no coincidence that he asked Elon Musk to find $2 trillion. And while Trump continues to say that he's not going to touch Social Security or Medicare, Elon Musk is on Larry Kudlow and every other talk show talking about how it's necessary to privatize these agencies because that's where more than 70% of the budget exists in Medicare, Social Security, and the national defense program. And for the United States Congress not to do its job, and hold him accountable, and bring Elon Musk before us is absurd, and Republicans are going to continue to hear this from every Member of Congress, and I hope their colleagues now join us and understand that this is exactly what needs to be done.  

 Yalda Hakim: I mean, there are a number of things there that I'd like to talk about. You talk there about Donald Trump trying to just distract and have everyone focused on one issue and not the real issues. But also, you know, importantly, you talked about the fact that Congress is not stepping up and speaking up perhaps the way that you did last week. How much damage do you think then that will do it in the long run? Because I mean, we're only 8 weeks in at this point.  

 Rep. Larson: Well, I hold a lot of frequent town halls, and more than one person stood up, including a Holocaust survivor last night, got up and spoke and said, ‘this is starting to look like Germany in the 30s.’ And I know that sometimes a lot is made of this, but the fact of the matter is, when you can give somebody who's not accountable to Congress, that didn't have to be approved by the United States Senate, that doesn't have to disclose any of his information when he is already dealing with the United States government, and neither do any of his DOGE employees. What gives them that right? It is legal to have a special assistant, but it is not legal to have someone not come before the Congress and be accountable for their proposals and what they're doing. And why is it that these DOGE employees can have access to people's information and data, and we don't even know who they are? ‘We’ being Congress.  

Yalda Hakim: Congressman, are you disappointed in the Democrats? I mean, where are they? They seem to be still licking their wounds.  

 Rep. Larson: Well, I think I think there's a couple of general theories that exist out there. One of them being, they're doing so many things wrong, give them enough rope to hang themselves. And that's usually a look that can be taken, with regard to Congress, which moves slower. Trump and Musk know that they only have about 11 months to get done what they want to do. Their focus is privatization, and they are moving extraordinarily fast, which is why Congress has got to step up. I think all Democrats are on the same page. It's just a question of now bringing clarity to this. And thankfully for the media and these moments, now the citizens are beginning to step in and start to clamor for this. That's what will ultimately wake up the Congress, especially the majority in the House and the Senate.  

 Yalda Hakim: Congressman, I also wanted to get your reaction to reports that have come in today that Elon Musk paid or donated to the campaigns of certain Members of Congress — up to 6 and a half, or so, thousand dollars — those Members of Congress that have showed support for impeaching judges.  

Rep. Larson: That's just the beginning. I think Elon Musk is fascinated with his new power. I think he's fascinated with this authority that he has and the fact that he's unaccountable. The truth of the matter is that he needs to be brought before us. It's also, he [has] now figured out that he's going to not only influence Congress, but boards of education, local town councils, and mayors, and state legislative bodies because he sees this as a path forward. It started with the $250 million that he gave Donald Trump, but he's also fascinated with this new power that he has. For him to appear with chainsaws on TV is disgusting because he feels like he doesn't have to be accountable or come before this democracy. That's why I think people should be very concerned. It's the threat to our very democracy. Nobody — I'm sure that he's a genius. I'm sure that he's a very bright and capable person, but he's not above the law, and he's not above answering to the American people. Our preamble starts off to the Constitution with 'We the People,’ and ‘We the People’ demand that he come forward and give us the answers.  

Yalda Hakim: Congressman, really great to talk to you. Thank you so much for joining us here on the program.  

 Rep. Larson: Thank you, Yalda.