We’re turning on sinks and shit to have conversations.”
|
|
|
|
Managers at two federal agencies have warned staffers that their communications may be secretly monitored, as anxiety about DOGE runs rampant through the workforce.
- Ever felt like someone’s watching you? Plenty of federal workers feel that way these days — including, in at least two cases, because their managers have warned them that it’s really happening. That’s according to reporting I did alongside reporter Joseph Gedeon, in Crooked Media’s debut collaboration with The Guardian. We spoke to more than two dozen federal employees across six agencies, who detailed their fears of being snooped on by agents of Elon Musk’s so-called “Department of Government Efficiency,” or possibly by senior management — and cases in which their bosses told them it’s already happening.
- Managers at the Environmental Protection Agency told employees that DOGE is “using AI to scan through agency communications to find any anti-Musk, anti-DOGE, or anti-Trump statements”, an employee told us. Workers should be “very careful” about what they say in private messages and virtual meetings, the supervisors added. Meetings and phone calls with the EPA are being monitored by an AI tool, a supervisor at one organization that works closely with the agency warned staffers in an email.
- The EPA denied recording meetings, but didn’t specifically address the use of artificial intelligence. “This is fake news,” an EPA spokesperson said in a statement. “EPA is not monitoring or transcribing phone calls, meetings, or calendar entries.”
- At the Department of Veterans Affairs, a senior official also warned employees in an email that virtual meetings were being secretly recorded. Anyone dissatisfied with President Donald Trump’s decisions should be careful about voicing their opinions, the official cautioned. The VA didn’t reply to an official request for comment.
In some cases, federal employees have been taking new measures to safeguard their privacy.
- Some staffers at the State Department have started using white noise machines in their offices, or have even turned on an office breakroom sink, to muffle conversations in case there might be any hot mics within range, an employee told us. A State Department spokesperson denied that employees are being monitored "for loyalty or other ridiculous purposes." They added: "The Department has always been transparent with its employees on expectations of privacy," in questions of national security.
- The vibes aren’t better elsewhere: “It’s like being in a horror film where you know something out there [wants] to kill you but you never know when or how or who it is,” an employee at the Department of Housing & Urban Development told us.
- The White House issued a blanket denial. “Fake reporters are willing to draft up any sensationalist, totally fake stories for clicks, instead of spending their time and effort on real reporting. None of this story is true, and another fake news reporter is once again missing the point of DOGE — saving the American people billions of dollars from waste, fraud, and abuse,” White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in a statement.
- You can think of this story as the result of a collaboration not just between reporters, but between us and all of you as well. Many of the sources we relied on to write this article reached out to us in response to callouts that we published in this newsletter. Some of you saw something, and said something — and now, we’re sharing that with the world. In other words, What A Day fam, this is your story, too. It’s our work, together. Thank you. You guys rock.
Read the entire investigation here. As always, reach out to me on Signal at mattberg.33 with any tips.
And check out this awesome graphic that The Guardian’s team made: |
|
WHAT A SPONSOR
420 is around the corner, and there’s no better time to elevate your wellness routine. Whether you want to relax, recharge, or refocus, VIIA has the perfect lineup for you.
Trusted by over half a million happy customers, VIIA is changing the game in natural wellness — blending powerful, high-quality hemp-derived ingredients to deliver real, effect-driven benefits. Whether you’re looking to sleep better, have better libido, improve focus, recover, or simply relax, VIIA has a tailored solution just for you.
With products ranging from zero to high cannabinoid levels, VIIA lets you fully customize your experience to fit your needs. Whether you’re looking to support your daily wellness routine, enhance focus and clarity, or unwind with deep relaxation, VIIA has you covered. From their award-winning effect-forward gummies to calming drops, every VIIA product is thoughtfully crafted, made with organic, lab-tested hemp sourced from trusted independent American-owned farms.
And the best part? VIIA legally ships across the USA — discreet, direct to your door, no medical card required, and backed by a worry-free guarantee.
Not sure where to start? Take VIIA’s Product Finder Quiz to get personalized recommendations tailored to your needs. It can take you less than 60 seconds to complete!
So if you're 21+, treat yourself to VIIA’s annual SPRING 420 SALE – Black Friday-level savings up to 35% sitewide right now, up to 50% OFF packs and bundles AND get a FREE GIFT + MORE SAVINGS with your first order using our exclusive code: CROOKED at VIIAhemp.com —plus, enjoy free shipping on orders over $100!
|
|
Democrats in Congress are calling for an investigation into whether Donald Trump engaged in insider trading or market manipulation by abruptly calling off the tariff plan. “Family meme coins and all the rest of it are not beyond insider trading or enriching themselves. I hope to find out soon,” Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) told TIME. What’s fishy? “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!!” Trump posted on Truth Social right after the market opened on Wednesday… promoting his own media company. Nothing to see here!
The State Department didn’t list criminal conduct as a reason for detaining Columbia grad student Mahmoud Khalil, according to a memo written by the department obtained by the Associated Press. Instead, Khalil was arrested for having views that undermine “core American interests,” per the memo. Reminder: He was arrested for leading pro-Palestinian protests… y’know, exercising his right to free speech.
Kathleen Sgamma, Trump’s nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management, withdrew her nomination after past criticism she made about the Jan. 6 riots was revealed. “I am disgusted by the violence witnessed yesterday and President Trump’s role in spreading misinformation that incited it,” she reportedly said. Her withdrawal was “self-inflicted,” a Trump official said.
The White House ended funding for the group that creates the United States’s major climate report every four years, outlining the impacts of global warming across the country. “There’s really no coming back from this, and it means we are all less informed about climate impacts, and won’t have the most up-to-date information on risks and threats,” a federal employee who worked with the group told The Guardian. Fortunately, if we stop thinking about climate change… it just goes away. Right, guys?
|
|
THERE'S MORE IN STORE
So Trump’s plan to screw over everyone who’s ever bought a good or service is going great. Good thing that’s not me! Anyway, the Crooked Store figured this WTF moment called for a “why the F not” sale, so select t-shirts are 25% off for a limited time. It’s the perfect time to grab a piece that expresses what you care about, like a Don’t Mess With Immigrants shirt or a Touch Grass tee, for 25% off. Wear it to a protest, a volunteer event for a local election, or just your everyday life as a reminder of what you’re fighting for. This sale won’t last long, so head to crooked.com/store to shop now.
|
|
Teachers in a small upstate New York town launched a nearly two-week long protest after ICE arrested three children in an immigration raid. After the public outcry, the children and their mother were released. The cherry on top? This was a county that Donald Trump won by double digits, and border czar Tom Homan owns a home in the town. Yeah… maybe don’t arrest kids?
DOGE backed away from cuts to Social Security phone services following intense backlash, as the move would’ve made it harder for recipients to access claims. “Musk is stupid for trying and wasting everyone’s time, but people fought back,” one Social Security employee told What A Day. Resistance works!
Former First Lady Michelle Obama wants you to know that her and her husband are doing just fine. “People couldn’t even fathom that I was making a choice for myself… they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing,” Michelle said, after rumors sparked since she didn’t attend some events with Barack. “I get to look at my calendar … and I chose to do what was best for me, not what I had to do, not what I thought other people wanted me to do.”
 |
|
No longer want to receive these emails? Unsubscribe.
Crooked Media 4817 N 56th St Suite 45 Lincoln, Nebraska 68504
|
|
|
|
|
