DOGE attacks a bastion of Republican internationalism
Elon Musk has joined a war of ideas under the guise of a budget fight
A mix of MAGA purists and internationalist Republicans staffed Donald Trump’s first administration, with the old establishment generally holding the upper hand. But in his second term the populists are driving policy, and congressional Republicans mostly have stood aside. Consider the muted response to Elon Musk’s attack on the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). Unlike some of Mr Musk’s broadsides against spending, this one is more about ideas than budget numbers.
Explore more
This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline “Reaganism’s end?”
United States
February 22nd 2025- Is Elon Musk’s war on fraud just cover for a power grab?
- DOGE attacks a bastion of Republican internationalism
- Donald Trump’s foreign-aid cuts threaten his rural voters
- In Texas, vaccine-choice activists are ascendant
- Why so many children in America have ADHD
- For Donald Trump, the resignations are the point

From the February 22nd 2025 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionDonald Trump’s Washington reaches a new partisan peak
His address to Congress showed that Republicans will follow their leader anywhere, and that Democrats don’t have one
Andrew Cuomo plots a comeback in New York City
The disgraced former governor announces a run for mayor of the Big Apple
Trump’s armed forces won’t look like Biden’s
America is set to spend more—and differently
Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s savvy dealmaker
The novice diplomat embodies the president’s transactional worldview
America has never had state media like it does today
Donald Trump and Elon Musk are revolutionising presidential communication
America’s Gen Z has got religion
Because of them, a long decline in the number of Christians has levelled off