Musk and Ramaswamy’s D.C. Visit Sparks Late-Night Jokes
A Brief Visit to Brainstorm… Or Not
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy made a whirlwind trip to Washington D.C. this week, visiting with lawmakers as part of their move to reshape government. The pair co-lead a commission dubbed DOGE, an interesting choice given its more playful namesake, a cryptocurrency and widely popular meme. However, their D.C. visit, shrouded in secrecy and lacking any detailed pronouncements, had late-night host Jimmy Kimmel adding fuel to the flame with some sharper than usual jabs.
Kimmel, known for his politically focused humor, compared the commission to a child getting a set of pilot’s wings but lacking the power to actually fly the plane. “This group they run, DOGE, has no power to make laws, to cut the budget, or to do anything – it’s like when you’re a kid and you visit the cockpit, the pilot – you get a set of wings. It doesn’t mean you get to fly the plane,” Kimmel joked on Thursday’s episode.
Divine Intervention From a Billionaire?
Adding further confusion to the session, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) labeled it a “brainstorming session” with lawmakers, revealing little information about the specifics. A particularly playful element arose when reports surfaced that Musk and Ramaswamy are planning to compile a list outlining which lawmakers have been “naughty” or “nice.”
The unusual approach sparked Kimmel’s imagination.
“Nothing to worry about, there’s just a foreign-born billionaire deciding which of our elected officials get to wake up on Christmas morning and which don’t,” Kimmel quipped.
He continued, “Given the choice between that, I’d really like the foreign-born billionaire scuba diving in the explorer’s biosphere—it just seems less scary.”
The visit and Kimmel’s commentary highlight a growing trend of unconventional political figures stepping onto the national stage. Whether Musk and Ramaswamy can enact meaningful change through DOGE, or if their visit simply serves as a catalyst for more late-night jokes, remains to be seen.
What are the specific details of the proposed changes to the federal government suggested by Musk and Ramaswamy’s DOGE commission?
## Musk and Ramaswamy in D.C.: Reform or Meme?
**(Host)** Welcome back to the show. Joining us tonight is political analyst, Dr. Emily Carter, to discuss the recent whirlwind trip to Washington D.C. by tech moguls Elon Musk and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Their visit, coupled with the fascinating name of their commission – DOGE – has sparked a lot of discussion and, of course, late-night jokes. Dr. Carter, can you shed some light on what transpired during this visit?
**(Dr. Carter)** Certainly. Musk and Ramaswamy’s visit was brief but definitely noteworthy. They met with lawmakers to discuss their new commission, aptly named DOGE, which aims to restructure the federal government. As reported by AP News [[1](https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-doge-ce55aa7ca8c921511d18e837c2a2db64)], they claim DOGE presents a “historic opportunity for structural reductions in the federal government.”
**(Host)** “Structural reductions” sounds pretty serious. What kind of changes are they proposing?
**(Dr. Carter):** While the specific details are still vague, they’ve made it clear they’re aiming for significant downsizing. Right now, they’re emphasizing streamlining processes and reducing bureaucracy. It’s yet to be seen how far they’ll go with their proposed cuts, and whether they’ll find support for their vision in Congress.
**(Host):** And about that name, “DOGE.” It’s certainly attention-grabbing. Is it just a publicity stunt, or is there deeper meaning behind it?
**(Dr. Carter):** It’s hard to say for sure. Some speculate it’s a nod to Dogecoin, the cryptocurrency that Musk has frequently promoted, perhaps signaling a more unconventional approach to government reform.
**(Host):** Certainly unconventional. This visit has generated a lot of buzz. Do you think these billionaires will be able to achieve their ambitious goals?
**(Dr. Carter)** Time will tell. Their entrepreneurial backgrounds suggest they’re not afraid to take risks and challenge the status quo. However, navigating the complexities of Washington politics will be a whole new ball game. It remains to be seen whether they can translate their business success into tangible government reforms.
**(Host):** A lot to watch for in the coming months. Dr. Carter, thank you so much for your insightful analysis.
