Hi, guys. As most of you know, the interviews I usually do on my show, The Sage Steel Show, are about... an hour or so, maybe a little bit more each week. But this week, as you can see behind me, is a little bit different. That's because the White House invited about 10 podcasters here. to do interviews, have some quick conversations with many members of President Trump's staff, the cabinet administration as a whole.
And it was awesome. I got to talk to all kinds of people from the Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, to the White House Press Secretary, Caroline Leavitt and her staff. Guys, this was really, really special. Not only did I get to learn more about what they do every day in their jobs, but who they are as people, even though they were really quick, short 10, 15 minute interviews. So the cool thing is that the White House says it wants to continue to do more of these.
just day-long sessions, a couple of minutes with many different people as America continues to know what President Trump is doing. to make America great again. So here you go. Five short interviews on the Sage Deals show today. I hope you enjoy. Do I even need to introduce you these days? Can you go get coffee, go to dinner without people stopping you? Caroline Levitt, obviously. Thank you. How has life changed?
A lot, definitely. My friend Sarah Huckabee Sanders, now the governor of Arkansas, did give me great advice before this job. She said, your life will change overnight the first time you take the podium. and i think there's a lot of truth to that but i'm still the same person and i still like to do
I'm having fun and I love my job, so it's good. Take me back to that first day when you approached the podium the very first time. Something that I assume you had dreamt of. I mean, you are on a mission. like get out of the way. What was that day like? It was very calm in comparison to what you would have imagined or what I would have thought. I prepared very much for that. I prepare extensively for every briefing, but particularly the first one.
And I was nervous, but I felt... confidence because I prepared and best quote in life is if you fail to prepare, prepare to fail. And I knew I could succeed because I had the knowledge that I needed. And I have an amazing team who is so supportive and helped me prep, get my notes together, and a great president who tells it like it is and makes my job very easy.
Does he give feedback? Because he watches everything, right? Yes. What's that like? Lots of feedback. Really? He watches it all. And it's always very positive and kind. He is one of the things people... don't know about President Trump, but they should is he is a words of affirmation guy.
And so complimentary to staff and everyone. I mean, you've met him. He's always so kind. And I think it's probably because he was in the real estate and hospitality industry. He knows how to make people feel good. And he's just a pleasure to be around and a great boss to work for and is very upfront and honest. about how he feels about everybody, which that's what you want in a leader. You want to know where you stand with your boss.
And he has put together such a great team here at the White House. And Susie Wiles, great testament to her because everybody knows their lanes and their jobs and how to execute. And we're all running at the direction of. Right, which is non-stop.
Insanity, basically. 24-7. Yes, it is actually so humbling that I've been around him a few times, obviously, in the campaign trail, and every time I thought... good god how does he do this and it's inspiring though and it's almost like get over your excuses because if this 78 79 year old man can do it
you better go along with him or else. And he never makes excuses. Yeah. He always shows up, always says yes, is so generous with people's, with his time. You know, when people come into the Oval Office to meet with. We'll schedule 30 minutes or an hour. He gives them two or three hours of his day and he just.
really loves people and he's a great conversationalist and a great storyteller but um he never makes excuses and he gets the job done yeah and when he says he's going to do something he doesn't Yes. I think if people did not believe that before, shame on you. It is being proven to you every day. The team that you mentioned, yes, he's put together an amazing team. But so have you. And that is something that I got to see up close and personal when I was there.
new media seat that was like one of the coolest days of my life and thank you again for what you did to welcome me but I that's what stood out to me the most I've been asked a lot is the before before you went out there it's everybody's under 30. I mean, everybody is like you, so young. What is it that makes this team in particular work so well and help you prepare every day?
I have a phenomenal team. Deputy press secretaries, assistant press secretaries, press assistants, an executive assistant who keeps my life moving every second. They are all amazing young. energetic people who are working their butts off every day for the president and to support my role as press secretary. And they're fighting the fake news, the entire legacy media.
They are fighting them actively on the front lines every day, calling out the BS and trying to get the truth and the president's agenda across, which is not an easy job, but they're doing it in an incredible way. And they all love being here. And we have a lot of fun. And we understand the seriousness and the responsibility of our role. But when you love what you do, it makes it. more enjoyable. And so we have a team meeting every morning.
You know, we check in with each other, how we're doing, and everybody is friends. We just have a great team. And my counterpart, Stephen Chung, who is our communications director, we work together on the campaign. And so our teams have combined to have a really good battle rhythm. These are tried and tested warriors. They were in the trenches of the campaign trail. And so now they're at the White House and we're governing. We're no longer campaigning, but it's still the same fight every day.
is I think the commitment to faith that every one of you seems to have. And I was taken aback that you pray as a group, as a team, before you go out and face the press. How did you get to that point, I guess? How did that begin? I worked as an assistant press secretary for Kayleigh McEnany, one of his press secretaries in the first... And she was always adamant about including faith as part of the team.
And I think it's very important as a believer myself to just have that moment before a briefing and ask God for confidence and wisdom and the ability to articulate my words and, you know, to bless our team and the president. everybody on our staff. So just to take that moment as a team, it is really special. There was one briefing where it was a bit chaotic before and I was prepping and just almost ran out to the podium because I was running late. I like to be pretty on time for these things.
And my principal, Deputy Harrison Fields, reminded me, hey, we got to pray. I was like, thank you, brother. Yes, we do. So I have we have a great team and it's a great support system. It does. It calms you right before you take that podium. And then we see Savage Caroline come out at times, which to me, you know, you've got some millions of Americans right now going, yes, yes, yes. I mean. You can predict some of the questions and then you can predict maybe especially from whom they're coming.
Do you feel it inside when you're like, okay, I know what they're about to say or try to say? Like, you crush people. And it's amazing to watch. I try not to crush people. No, but it's just the facts. I just try to speak the truth. I mean, really. I go out there knowing what the truth is, what the president believes, and it's my job to just articulate that. And you just got to listen to the premise of the question because oftentimes it's wrong.
And yes, there is a bit of a fire that gets lit in there when I can feel, you know, and you've been in the room, so tensions can get high or sometimes. It's not. It just depends on the topic and the day and the news cycle and who I call on. But I call on everybody. I think everybody deserves a chance to ask a question. And that's why we've opened this place up to not just legacy media, but new media like you.
and so many other people who have arguably bigger platforms than the legacy outlets these days. Times have changed and you guys are helping to continue that and give everybody that platform. I mean, the competitive side of you though, like what I do is I put myself in your shoes and I'm like, okay, if I just crush someone like that, like just with facts. so good. Like tell me what that feels like.
Like when you know, and overall, when you go out there and you have a very good briefing and you achieve your goal. Overall, what does that feel like when you go back and you talk to your team? Yeah, it feels good to know that I accomplished the mission of getting the message out there. and speaking the truth and staying true to the president's message and our agenda. So when we accomplish that goal, we pat ourselves on the back, but that's it. I mean, we don't get elated.
It's the mission. Yeah, we accomplish a goal, we win the day, and then we move on. thing and it's just part of my job to do these briefings and then I'm rolling into interviews and meetings with the president and whatever else the day brings and running home to your baby yes and then the best job of all is being a mom honestly I think that that is No matter what happens at work, as mothers, we go home and it is perspective.
And this is fleeting, right? But that is forever. And you are now like the hot mom. You're like everybody. Okay. She has to go. I'm getting eyeballs from her. No, no, no. I'm just laughing. She's a busy woman, but I will end on this note. And this, I will ask maybe if you can sit down with me on, uh, for a normal length show with me, because most importantly. The goal is to never wear an outfit twice. I have heard this. Little birdie told me, correct?
So aside from Melania Trump, everyone's watching her wardrobe, right? I mean, there is pressure on. There is. Oh, my gosh. I love clothing and fashion. I always have. So it's fun to be able to. express myself through my clothing, especially as a younger press secretary. I try to keep it fashionable and chic. You know, there's a lot of haters online, but we let the haters hate and we just have fun with it. Bring it to the haters because we know what that does when you hate on somebody.
That they're doing the right thing. Absolutely. Okay. Thank you for taking a few minutes. Get back to work. Will you come on my show show at some point? I'd love to. to know the human aspect of this team. And there's so much good. So God bless. Thank you. Thank you. Good to see you. I am here with, see if I don't get this title right, he'll kill me.
special assistant to the president and principal deputy press secretary harrison fields live and in person i feel like i've known you now for years it hasn't been years but it feels like it because when we met i'm like okay connection here instant connection how are you we're not We're like two and a half months in, right? Yeah. I'm not counting the days specifically, but...
You guys are working your butts off. It feels like two and a half years, but it's only been two and a half months. It's absolutely nuts. This is Trump's speed. It's what he requires of all his staff. It's what he promised the American people. And we're delivering more in two and a half months than most presidents.
So it's actually pretty amazing to see what he's been able to achieve. And everything he's done, he said he would do, comes to no surprise to anyone. And it's exactly what the American people elected him to do. I have to tell you. It feels like every single day, if you're a news reporter here, like you're not sleeping. There is breaking news every single day. So what is your life?
Because you you're doing two jobs, essentially. Yeah. Well, on top of being a dad to a newborn, which you never sleep doing that, as you know, you're working incredible hours, but it's also rewarding. And I tell people it doesn't feel like work when you're having.
We have the greatest team. Caroline built an incredible team of young, driven warriors that really are just here to make America great again and fulfill President Trump's promise. And it comes from the largest mandate we've seen in such a. not just the swing states that voted winning the popular vote over 70.
people dedicated to what we were campaigning on everything that we did in our agenda. So it's, it's really, it's beautiful work. It's exciting. It's not always easy, but it's so rewarding and it's a blessing. OK, so specifically when we say special assistant to the president, you do what? Yeah. So essentially, I'm a commission officer, which is a funny way of saying I report directly to the president. We all technically direct report directly to the president. But it's a little.
nice designation that you work really hard to achieve. And at the end of the day, we always serve at the pleasure of the president. We are working every single day commissioned or uncommissioned. It's just a fancy designation to say. you've got some seniority at the white house but so you're in his office you're in the oval office every day caroline is holding down the fort in the oval office i am her principal deputy so i am right there in the trench
Every day, really. Yeah. The Oval Office is a beautiful place. I've had the pleasure of being in there, seeing the president work. But it's it's an incredible wherever you. It's just a blessing to be here and fulfill. One thing about President Trump that you think would surprise people from seeing him every day in the grind that he enjoys being on? Yeah. His compassion for the... To have a billionaire who doesn't have the lifestyle of many of us, didn't grow up.
but has a level of connection with everyday voters. And a commitment to them that not many billionaires in this country would dare to care. And he cares. And I think his level of. to the average american is a beautiful thing and this is why you see the connection with elon musk yeah their friendship the way they're able to work so well to to each other is because they don't have to answer to anyone but they do to the
And they're not here to please anyone outside of the American people. But it's a choice. It's a choice. Because neither one of them needs to be doing any of this. That's the thing. Okay, so then. Principal Deputy Press Secretary. Again, Caroline is doing an incredible job. It has been really awesome to watch her do. But you are her right hand man. You are doing everything with her. Give us a day in the life with that job. Oh, it starts early and we're trying to figure out what the media.
What's going to be thrown at us today? The good thing is the media is so predictable. We kind of already know what they're going to do, which is why we're able to combat them so well. They're so predictable. They always talk about the same thing, but we're making sure we give our inquiries. We have a story.
Why not say it? So we make sure we're hand in hand together, making sure that the message of the president gets accurately and effectively delivered. And that's exactly what we do. We're planning messaging. We're talking about different ways the American people.
We're answering the media's questions. We're dealing with them every single day. And but it's a joy to do it. And Caroline and I were here in the first administration together in our first office on this floor, the fourth floor of the Eisenhower building.
Then I followed her over to the West Wing when Kaylee was press secretary. And here we are again. You guys were babies together, basically. You're 29. She's 27 years old. And now we both have babies. And now you both have little babies. Almost the same age. Exactly. Two months apart. It's amazing. I think one of the things that stood out to me when I was here a month ago new media seats. I was so honored. I think I was the third person to sit in that chair. I was so nervous.
people i was so nervous for that one but anyway the the thing that stood out to me the most was the team aspect and how she you all have created an incredible team an incredible team of young people who are dedicated to this mission to, I know it's cliche, but it's true to make America great again. Describe the team atmosphere that's in there because I felt it. It was special. Yeah. All walks of life. I mean, I am the product of a single mother.
Dad was never in my life. Born in New York, raised in Florida. Mom was NYPD. Then we have people from Texas. We have people from New Jersey or Caroline, New England. We have a great team, a diverse team come from different walks of life that understand what it's like to be a real American. We are still very much in touch. why the president was elected because he had that sense of what the american people want
Some of them went to karaoke last night. We'll talk too much, but they had a great time last night. We have fun. We work hard, but we're all committed to the mission, which is so important. It's not about us. It's never about us. It's about serving the American people. States. And that's what we do every single day. How is it personally? Because we talked about your baby girl, six months old. you're a husband, you have, I mean, that is your
I know you're a man of faith. How do you balance all of that while you're basically 24 seven on call? Yeah, we joke around here. We white knuckle it. We just grab the wheel and we say, Jesus, take the wheel and we just get through it. But again, it's so rewarding. You got to have a really great spouse at home. My wife is incredible. Caroline's husband is an incredible man. We have really great people.
We pray as a team. We sing worship in lower press. This is what we do. Yeah. So we put God at the center. And we get through it. And next thing you know, you get here early and then you look at the clock and it's time to go home and you do it all over again. And you really capitalize on the times you can be with family. But we are. And that gets us through the day. We were talking before we started about where you. in the state of florida with pam bondi attorney general pam bondi
how everything comes full circle, right? I mean, was this your dream, your goal? How did this happen? Yeah, I think God doesn't make mistakes. From a very young age, we talked off air. I was playing with Model Air Force. I knew every single president. The ninth president, Henry Harris, Henry, William Henry Harris.
William is my middle name. Harrison is my first name. So I automatically was driven to him. Was that on purpose? By your mom? No. Well, funny story about that. We'll talk. What to say now? Go. My name came about. My mom struggled to get pregnant for so long. She was 13. She was in the waiting room to figure out if she was pregnant. Young boy, blonde hair, blue eyes. My mom was like, he looked like an angel. Ran to her. And in the background, his mom was saying, Harrison, don't.
And my mom goes, this is a sign from God I'm pregnant with a boy. A couple weeks later, pregnant with a boy. No, no way. Yeah. Yeah. That's how I got my name. I have chills. Yeah. Wow. Yeah. But from a young age, and if you have Air Force One model planes. Yeah. This all makes sense. I always loved history. If anyone's to blame, it's my grandfather, really, because at a young age.
Rush Limbaugh was in the car every single time he would pick me up. My grandfather was like my father figure. My dad wasn't in my life. Rush Limbaugh throughout the house, throughout the car. And at a young age, we were like, turn it off, turn it off. But I knew what it was doing. In many ways, God. Hearing the love of country. My grandfather, Puerto Rican, born in this country. My grandmother born.
They came here, nothing in their pockets, nothing. But they worked hard. They love this country. They prioritize faith in the household, family. So I really had conservative.
war he was nypd my mom was nypd so i always had a love of country hearing rush limbaugh in the background it's probably doing something for you uh but yeah this is i've always had a dream of being raised by a single mom and what she did sacrifice every day and how many siblings three so there's four total well there's three of three total okay as a What does she say now as she watches you not just do your thing, but do it like at the highest level to help all of us? Yeah.
She's incredibly proud. She's a rock star of a woman. The cool thing about this job, too, is you get to share the experience. Last night I had my mother. when Trump was here the first time, showing them the Oval Office and taking the walk on the colonnade was so special because.
We would have never thought we would be there. My mom grew up in the projects in Queens. This is crazy talk. Like she's in the Oval Office, you know. So this is the American dream. This is something that the president is always talking about. How can we achieve the. Like someone like me who came from nothing, didn't have a father, we didn't have a dollar to our name, can be here working in the West Wing. It's the true American dream and present.
me and so many other people that have an amazing story to push forth the American dream. Honestly, that is exactly what it is. I'm picturing.
I think I would be a disaster. I would be a sobbing mess walking me in there and introducing me to people that this world and now i'm here with sage steel like this is whatever she's gonna be like harrison now you're getting too cool you know because i do some media here and there but now doing now i made it big i made it you are ridiculous and i just I hope you know the difference that you're making.
When you tell your story and we need to go deeper another time, I hope that you'll let me do that. Yeah, please. And what you could have chosen, you know, this was not an easy path. No, no. And I was joking in a way. My two older brothers both convicted felons. I'm the first one to graduate from college.
First one to get a master's degree. First one not to be behind bars right now. So it's really a compelling thing of like you really have a faith in God. You have a purpose. You have a mom that is whipping. You do what you were called to do. And this is what the American dream is all about. What made you different from your brother? Who I had them to learn from, you know, what not to do. But I've always had a really strong.
And I, you know, respecting authority has always been something that I, I had a fear of not just God, but of my mom. I love that. I would say healthy fear of mom is a good thing. You need it. You need it. So, um, but we all come together. My brother's eternity. We believe in redemption and they've turned it around. something out of themselves too so you live and you learn and by the grace of god you continue to press forward and this is what it's all about this we're giving people
we do for a step back under the first administration. It doesn't matter the circumstances of your birth, the circumstances of life decisions. You can turn it around and do something in this country and make your contributions known. And this is what. He's giving everyone an opportunity to succeed in this country. And just look at the agenda. We're securing the border. We're lowering taxes. We're in this tariff war, but we're doing it because America
be great once again. We have so many cities. I have family in Toledo, Ohio. This was the part of the run. Run that city. Run the state. Shuttered. Because a Republican, Democrat alike that pushed these jobs overseas. Unexcusable. President Trump is bringing that back. And we're making America safe again. There's going to be some massive news later on today. I won't preview too much. But we are going to make sure safety is once again a priority in this city.
In Washington, D.C. That is music to the ears of many because it's been heartbreaking to watch from a distance. On the opposite end, it's been beautiful to watch you, this entire team. And you talk about redemption. You talk about vindication after four years off. Okay, fine. This is not about me today, though. And I hope that you'll sit down with me at another time because your story is one that everybody knows.
It's an honor to be here. In the meantime, get some sleep with a six-month-old baby who's teething and they're sleep training. I will pray for you. Please. We'll take all the prayers. Thank you, Harrison. Good to see you. Thank you. Secretary Linda McMahon, thank you.
so much for being here. It is an honor. You know, I lived in the state of Connecticut for 17 years at ESPN. Yes. So your state, although I've now escaped your state. Thank you very much for the sunshine state, the friendly skies of South Florida. I was so thrilled. Like when I heard your.
um for secretary of education i it's my favorite appointment absolutely my favorite one because i know what you've done as a businesswoman and a mother and how much you care and you don't have to be here you don't have to be doing When President Trump called, why did you say yes to taking this job?
Well, clearly, I've known the president for a long time. I served in his first administration. That was clearly an honor. And when he called and he talked to me, I was the co-chair of the transition committee. So I was really very involved.
on or going through. And then when he talked to me, he said, you know, I would like very much if you'd consider the Department of Education. And he said, but you know what my mandate is? My mandate is to close it down. And he said, so I need your buy-in on that. I said, absolutely. No hesitation. No hesitation. Why were you so okay with closing down the department?
Because I think the Department of Education has become so bureaucratic. Some people incorrectly think that the Department of Education controls curriculum, that it has input on what books do. are decided uh hiring of teachers superintendents we do none of that We are a policy shop, but we're also a funding pass-through for federally appropriated funds for our Title I schools, for our special needs schools, for our Office of Civil Rights. So all of that we are doing, but those could be handled.
by departments where they were handled before there was a Department of Education. I think it's in 1965 that, I believe that's the correct date, that Title I. It was first appropriated, followed shortly. I believe that's the correct order for our disabled and special needs children. And they were handled primarily through HEW, Department of Health, Education and Welfare at the time.
President Carter set up the Department of Education and it became effective in 1980. Since then, we've spent over a trillion dollars in education to only see our scores continue to go down. We're investing in bureaucracy. We're not investing in our students. But I do know that overall... Tens of millions of American children have been underserved.
with the Department of Education, which is why a week ago it was, I mean, what's the nicest way to say it? It got rid of it, right? The executive order to dismantle the Department of Education. When you look at those test scores and numbers and as young parents, how quick of a turn can this be? Everything does take time. And this is major to dismantle it and kind of start over.
Well, it is, but you can't affect anything until you get started. Yeah. So the president's executive order was get busy, get on it, get it done. Now, this will absolutely have to take place in cooperation. with Congress because this is a federal... by statute agency that was established. So we have to cooperate, and I hope to have Congress on as a part. by showing them how much better this is going to be for our students and not for bureaucracy, not to teach ideology, but to go back and teach.
So what are some of those things? If you could pick two or three, you know, top of your list as far as things that parents. can expect to see sooner rather than later that that will make all of this make sense because I think from the outside sometimes it is overwhelming to understand what you just explained. Well, and it is, and it's because parents aren't really aware of what the Department of Education does. They may not see some of these effects right away.
accepted as we look at school choice. which is something that many states are now adopting. That's something that has also been promoted and helped being driven by policy through the department. education to the states but it's up to each individual state to pass that legislation right now texas is heavily involved in getting theirs through and they tried their last legislative session but it wasn't successful then but they've made inroads
You know, I'd be guessing at the number, but certainly more than half of states now have adopted school choices. That's something parents will see immediately. But, you know, as states take back more of their curriculum. Yeah. Last year, last week, I was in Florida and I toured two classical schools, as they're called. These schools are back to basics. They are teaching reading by phonics. Very successfully learned to read. Yeah. And they're also getting back to memorizing times tables.
other math rules, so that they're building their foundation. Were those gone? Those were gone. They were looking at... Well, they weren't gone. They just were... but um you know sight learning by reading words sounding the same but we really have And by the way, let me say, I think a lot of these programs were put...
Yeah. There were experiments in how can we do this? How can we do that? But they just haven't worked. Yeah. I mean, no child left behind under the Bush administration with the best of intentions. Sure. Race to the top under the Obama administration with the best. But what we've seen is growth in the bureaucracy and declining proficiency in our actual education. So again, I mentioned the numbers and when you look at other countries and how the United States had just fallen so, so far.
Again, a daunting task, right? It is a daunting task. And the president... is very clear. I mean, his goal is to make education the best in the world. Certainly we need to be on the same competitive playing field as China and Denmark and Switzerland. countries. And we've got a ways to go to do it. But I think Congress is going to be important. There are some things that aren't part of that, that haven't been set up.
by statute, that I can have the ability to change. And so that's what we're looking at now. But this is going to require good cooperation with Congress. It's such a nonpartisan or it clearly has to be a total bipartisan effort. This is about the children of the United States. I said to the president in our cabinet meeting this week, I said, education is the cornerstone of our culture, of our national defense. I said, if we're not training that next generation, the generation after that.
who we're going to be, our lawyers, our scientists, our engineers, our builders, our welders, our electricians. I said our country will have no opportunity for success if we aren't making sure that that skill-based learning is also part of our education. I have to say basic things. I have three kids that are in college now, so they survived.
They weren't taught cursive. They weren't taught how to address an envelope. Basic things. And I just assumed it and I thought, oh my goodness, what is this? I know times have changed and we have technology, but I think those core things are what sadly have been missing. So I know I don't have too much time left. I think I'm just...
I'm so grateful that you have chosen this. And that's what this was. Because you have accomplished so much. So much. You've done it all. It's kind of like President Trump, actually. And you're similar age. to be here you could be anywhere that you want at home in connecticut wherever at a beach
Why are you choosing to do this at this stage in your life where you have accomplished so much and have already helped like millions of people? I think probably the driving force for me, I have six grandchildren. And I want to make sure that their lives, their children's lives, and the next generation after that. are as good as they can be. And if I can have a small part in my public service to help with that, I'm 120% on board with that. Finally.
I don't always ask this question, but I told you at the beginning, I've looked up to you from afar for so long. And the number of things you've done, I guess. That's the most important thing. to be and and so I say this to my kids all the time when I'm gone you're gonna realize how great I was right but for your grandkids your great grandkids
What do you hope they know about you? I would hope that they will look at their grandmother or their great-grandmother and really my kids as well and say, you know what? She just wanted to be a lifelong learner and contributor. And so whatever a path that took, she gave it her all. She contributed something that will outlast her and generations to come and will have been beneficial to the greater good.
You're doing it. And thank you for making that choice for all of us. Thank you so much. God bless. Thanks for having me today. Thank you. So it's nice to finally meet you in person. Thank you. Thank you so much. All I call him is Kalen Doerr. I don't really care about his title. However. Officially, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Communications Director.
Great to be here with you, my friend. That's a mouthful. Did you create that title for yourself? Yeah, I don't get paid by the word, unfortunately. So if it was a lot shorter, I think people... No, I'm excited. I'm excited to be here in this administration. I'm excited that you're here. We're doing this podcast row today. And this is something I've wanted to do for a while. I served in the last administration.
some new folks in here and by golly we did it just 60 days guys have done it really nonstop obviously with that new media chair in the press room which has been some cool people have been in there from time to time you know maybe but i big picture i i love it goes back
um and this concept so this is like a mini super bowl media row that's what we say right yeah it's kind of the same concept where you bring a bunch of here i mean white house is right there just to ask questions of all any number of people yeah and we've done this a couple of with different subsects so far. So we did a radio thing because, quite frankly, more, you know, people who work nine to five jobs who are impacted by the policies that we're implementing listen to radio than probably.
So we did something like that here in this room a few months ago. And then after our first cabinet meeting, we did. local media networks into the Rose Garden. And no one's ever done that before. No one's ever been like that. through some hits from the Rose Garden randomly after this cabinet meeting. So we had people do that and speak directly to the American people. as a headliner guest, but we brought in.
Yeah. Honestly, when you said that it's never been done before, you guys have been saying that a lot, whether it's this, whether. Any number of things. What is this? What is it like behind the scenes with you guys? Where are you all just able to draw out ideas?
Anything? Yeah. I mean, relatively speaking. I probably shouldn't say this, but there have been times where, especially on the digital front, I will... this thing that'd be really funny right and then like 10 minutes later it's in my inbox like okay we're ready to hit send on this and get it out and be like no no no yes yes yes let's do it is it like the garbage truck yeah yeah well it's it's what i love about this
and this president specifically, but this administration is that anybody can do it. So like these viral videos you see coming from the CBP, right? I've been told those are just like people. It's not like they have a dedicated team of individuals who are like workshopping. You don't need to be on Madison Avenue. going on advertising retreats to map out a message progression.
to not only do numbers on social media, but also to communicate effectively policy. I think that's been what's really important. You look at what Kamala Harris did, especially. Or Brat Summer. I still don't know what that is, right? Yeah, no idea. But I do know what it is, what we're trying to convey when we put out a fake Valentine's Day card from Tom Homan that says, roses are red, violets are blue.
I'll deport you, right? Like, you know exactly what we're trying to say. I was dead when you guys did that. I mean, how fun is this? And maybe.
to the first term for president trump not that that wasn't fun but this overall different because now everybody knew a little bit more what to expect if you were there the first time right well and and just take a look at the tagline right I mean we've been going with America is back right but a part of the subtext is you know if you ain't running with it run from been a really irreverent way of attacking policy. I mean, we've got a rapid response Twitter account with nearly a million followers.
this group of patriots in a room and they're just sitting there monitoring the news and pushing back on fake narratives. And I think that's really important. We move at Trump speed here in this White House. Biden moved it by. hear about it three months later not even sure if it was him doing it right yeah i think it's important to us to drive a contrast because we were elected push the boundaries of what is acceptable.
excelling at that and what I love and I keep bringing up because I was thinking about it today I got a root canal earlier this morning I found out that my dentist is one of us he's a good American And he said, I'm so glad he's back. So many people say that, even over the last couple of years. And I remember from whether it was members of Congress, whether it was staffers on the staff level, whether it was donors, they would all grab you and go, I love it.
Could you get him to tweet less? And I haven't heard that once since we've been here. So I kind of love that. I've heard it for years, actually. If only this. Right. And first of all. Stop it. If that's your reason for not voting for somebody, then I have zero respect for you. Yeah. I will say this, and I'd love your perspective. Again, this is round two for you. Amen. I feel like what happened in 2020 had to happen, even though I vote.
when it comes to that i i absolutely feel like it was stolen that's just me you don't have to say that um but it's almost like it took all getting to the brink of disaster with the potential of Kamala Harris being in the White House instead of Donald Trump right now, for America to realize, oh my gosh, this is not the... What's your take on that? Because there was four years on, crazy, four years off, observing, maybe planning, and now you're back. You know, I think we learned a lot.
and senior staffers feel the same way. It's almost like you ever have an interaction in high school with, like, for you, it would be the cute boy, and you're like, oh, man, I said something stupid, and you say. I don't know how cute this boy was, right? But it's almost like that, right? We've all been sitting here obsessing about ways to do it better. Very rarely in life do you get a chance to get a clean second opportunity at something so important.
four years to go out there and bring tangible quality of life improvements to the American people, but also shape. values pragmatism, values tangible things over the ethereal business as usual that they're used to. I know we were talking about it earlier. 60 something days is we've made like cutting fraud, waste and abuse like a cool thing. Like everyone is competing to cut the most nonsense. Right. Why did it take so long for this to happen? It's because President Trump is prior.
And everything is now in vogue. This has been the easiest job. Because, honest to God, it's like the American people give us a honey-do list, and I just wake up every day and say, oh, I know what you're going to do, check things off the box, right? We're just giving everyone what they voted for. One of the things that's been refreshing for me to see is
And the team, it really is a team. I mean, there's obviously going to be stuff here and there, maybe some drama, but there seems to be a genuine like, most importantly, respect for each other. I was blown. that I came and sat in that new media chair and to get to spend some time with Caroline and to see her team come together before she walks out there and takes the podium in prayer.
Describe what this team as a whole is like, because by the way, there's a couple of different teams, but you guys all work kind of on this together. I think this is what you get. And this is all a testament to Susie Wiles leadership. all obviously set from the president. What you see in maybe previous administrations is this desire to control everything from the top down, down to like, you know, the tweet. Everyone here believes in the mission. But we've hired the best of the best.
And that is, and I like to tell everybody on my team, like everyone gets enough. put a typo in a tweet or something like you know i'm on you yeah and i think that We're all believers. We've all got our guardrails. We know what the endgame is. all looks like loyalty is i think one of his best qualities that probably people don't talk about enough yeah but it seems to go from the top
Because there's so many of you who are returning back and you didn't have to. Right. This is a tough job. I don't think. not know that your time is yours. You're a young... Three months old. Three months old. Today. Today, actually, yes. Happy three month birthday. Yes. Some day she'll see this. But yeah, one day she'll see it. Absolutely. It's a thing. I mean, why did.
come back and do this again when you knew what you were getting into just based on not having much time to yourself and the stress? I think there's two answers to this question. I felt like I wasn't the best version. And that just comes with age. I was a kid. seriously i took myself as a person so serious that i probably wasn't a fun person to be around really you know what i mean like the the weight of the
to really shape the way I view things in probably a way that is not positive. Whereas I now look at this as a huge... to be a part of a team that I just I love working with day after day. I think that really changes things. But then also just the mandate that we were given by the president. improving people's lives. And I think that's really, that's really, it's so perfect.
So what's next? You know, I mean, you've done so, and I know you're just a couple months into the administration. I know I'm asking, but, but you've been. so much so well is there an ultimate dream are you going to be present someday you know what I mean like what's your no I'll be working for President Sage Steele Not happening. Ever. You couldn't pay me enough money and I wouldn't get the votes anyway.
the popular vote. That's a worthy accomplishment. That's a worthy goal. That's a very lofty goal. Congratulations on this hypothetical victory. No, and it takes a special person. But also, you know, he's shown that. No, this is about you. Nice try. Dang it. See, you're not. She's on to me. What about you? You have.
You have an incredible career. I'll tell you this. This is probably a longer answer than you're interested in. So I got started doing this when I was, you know, in my early 20s and I was interning on... And I ran out. I eventually ran out. I was living in like a dorm room with a bunch of college kids. I graduated a little early. I was living in a dorm room with a bunch of like 17-year-old kids.
of money and i went to bed one day i cried so hard i pray i prayed so hard tears were streaming down my face because and sell shoes at the Dick's Sporting Goods in Burlington, North Carolina, like I had done during college. And I viewed myself as a huge failure for that. I woke up the next day and I had a job. which is basically working to live.
hard about what I do next because God has always put the next opportunity very plainly in front of me. It's been absolutely incredible. From there, I met the people that, you know, they plugged me in. I worked in Iowa. for 10 years and eventually we ended up working for the president. And so you asked me what's next. I don't. and witness faith is guiding all of you literally okay
Praise to God coming out of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. I mean, is this a job requirement? I'm kidding. Obviously not. But how do you think that? that maybe certainly even affects the job that you do, because I think it's profound. Yeah, it allows us all to look. Right. And you're accustomed to doing that.
Someone in the building has tried to control the president's vision on X, Y, or Z, right? Just frankly, that's just what it, you know, the facts are facts. Probably shouldn't say it, but that's what it is, right? None of us here are interested in that. Yeah. the broader goal, and we kind of trust the Lord to figure it out for us. And now we've never heard President Trump talk about God as much as we have, frankly, since July 13th.
I believe everything happens for a reason. Yeah. And it does. It does create peace in you, doesn't it? Yeah. When you, when you're like, okay. Look what happened after that day when you let it all out and prayed. And now look. Now look. Now look at you. Here with me. For worse. Exactly. Yeah. I want everybody. This staff is special. I feel like you guys are my friends and I get to do this. And it's really awesome to see up close and in person and then to have this perspective of like.
When I'm watching you do your thing when I'm at the beach. Yeah. And I'm like, oh, they're still working. And you're going to be working all night. You're just hanging out at the beach all day? Pretty much. You know, there's work to be done. Come on. Come on. I will say this about you. So I grew up watching. And I.
why the hell did no one pick up the phone and call Sage? And I cold called you out of nowhere and you picked up. And that is wild to me because no one ever picks up random numbers anymore. And I was just so astounded. That was like the day before I needed to be here, too. Yeah. I called and said, hey, you got 12 hours. Pretty much. I was at the Super Bowl down in New Orleans. Yeah. But but.
feel honored to be a little like to be watching history it's all i'm doing is watching witnessing history like the rest of america yeah um and what you guys are doing is so special are you keeping a Like you need to be writing all of this down somehow. I should be better. And the hours I'm not here, I'm usually comatose with a baby. I get it.
Do a little voice memo. Those voice memos. I wish I had done that. And I'm not doing anything. I wasn't doing anything nearly as interesting and important as you are now. But I think it is. No, I'm serious. yourself later when you write a tell-all book yeah no tell-all books here i'm kidding i don't i'm not i'm not black i barely
I've just memorized a ton of words. Listen, I just had Linda McMahon over here, right? They have blown up the Department of Education. We're going to fix this. That's right. Nobody else ends up not being able to read. You're the best. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Of course. Just telling Russ Vought that I need my reading glasses. So, but you have them on permanently. So actually I'm ahead of you, right? You are. I think I would get fired if I didn't have my own reading glasses.
Okay, well, see, I'm afraid of getting titles wrong. Director of the U.S. OMB, Ops of Management and Budget. All the acronyms here I'm learning in Washington. Describe what that title means. Sure. I mean, we're the countries, the president's budget office, spending reductions, what we can afford, figuring out where our nation is from a fiscal standpoint and all regulations.
all government management across agencies. So anytime you have more than one government agencies, departments, secretaries, we're involved. You were appointed in February, right? January. Right at the inauguration time. Okay. Yes. Have you slept? Do you eat? Would you do anything else besides? You know, I had the benefit of doing this in the first term for the president. And so we then had four years to think about what we would do if we'd given another change. And so for us, it's...
We got that opportunity. Those of us who had to get through the Senate confirmation were now on the job. And we don't want to sleep because we want to get as much that we possibly can done for the American people. And we believe that time is your scarcest resource. administration. Political capital, you can grow. You can convince people and win arguments. Time is something that is always depleting. And so we're in a race against time. And I think you see that work ethic across the...
I think I expected things to go quickly for the exact reason that you said. You have had four years to sit back. watch, watch it go south. Actually, let me start there because when you're sitting back and really unable to help because the wrong people, in my opinion, were in power, what was that time like?
I'm sure as somebody who's used to being able to help and impact things, you were helpless. You couldn't do anything. Well, I think that the president did so much to think through what he wanted to accomplish. on a very policy-centric agenda. And so we knew what we would be doing once he got back in office. And a lot of time was spent. preparing for those types of opportunities.
Thankfully, the president is not afraid at all to take on this town, and he's brought on Doge and Elon Musk. And so we've just never had this opportunity before, not in my lifetime. of anything that resembles the possibility of what can be accomplished this year. And that's why it's so exciting for all.
Doge. I have sat back and just enjoyed watching every moment. It's interesting, though, because not everybody has. And that's to be expected, right? But everybody... ever um that spending there's so much waste but it seems as if people didn't want to do anything about it like you know it's there but we're too afraid to touch things How have you approached that when you know there's going to be pushback and there's going to be a human element where people are affected?
Well, I think that Doge is doing an incredible service to the country of bringing fresh... to what's going out the door and a lot of times agencies just had no idea even the secretary's head had no idea what their bureaucracies was pushing out the door. And we really learned this in 2020 when we were really grappling with a lot of the ideology. on woke spending, weaponized spending, where you'd have agencies that were trying to divide the.
And punitively, one of my favorite examples is Joe Robertson, 77-year-old Navy veteran. They put him in jail, EPA, for building... Like what on earth would you use a criminal statute to do that to someone? And we go agency by agency. that to be very prevalent. And Doge is bringing this en masse to the American people. And I think that's what's particularly exciting.
This town's not easy to change. It comes with stakeholders and people who benefit from these programs, and we're ready to take those on. But I think the American people are with us, and I think that's why polling reflects that. Everyone's been very enthusiastic. Even in quarters within this town, people are grappling because they work with the federal government. Even they know, man, this was important and well needed. Number wise, sometimes it's hard for me to come.
And when you go into billions and trillions, I mean, it's overwhelming. So how is this process not overwhelming for you, your entire team, Doja as a whole? Because it's almost like, where the hell do you begin? No, that is a great question. My view always is plant the flag somewhere and don't boil the ocean and figure out what you can accomplish with the time that you have.
I think it's important to... No one knows what trillions are. No one barely knows what billions are. They do know that when you spend a million dollars to promote LGBT... Senegal like that's not a good use of money when you're promoting tourism. And I think that is what's actually giving the American people confidence that they're not just getting smoke screens with, you know, cuts here, that they don't have a good sense of what it's.
So when you hear people only focus on, okay, but you're losing 500 jobs here or 1,000 jobs here, and what about the... How do you respond to that? Well, we want a growing economy that has increased labor force participation across the board. are designed to attract people into the private workforce. We think we're over invested in government.
We want to invest more in freedom. And so that doesn't mean we don't want people working. We desperately want people working and we want to bring people off the sidelines, not just. federal government workers but people that have been enticed by the benefits that have caused not treated as a social safety net, but a benefit hammock. And I think that's our economic agenda, and we're going to be continuing to push that.
One of the, I think, the missions, it seems, with this entire administration is we're... Don't we have to make sure that no matter who's in office next, another administration that. can't flip these things back and all your work is for naught. So how do you make sure that these implementations stick? Well, we're going to need to lock it in with laws. But I think when you build such a momentum, I just came from Capitol Hill. And they're asking for us to send up the doge cut so they can pass.
Right. That's how you begin to lock them in. So it's not temporarily becomes permanent. And we will see that on a host of different issues. But what I think this president's done. is he's not waiting on Congress. He's acting, and then Congress is forcing Congress to come along and be on his side. people to his side with what he's already done how different is it this time versus last
It's great. He's always been great and wonderful to work for. I think this time we're so cohesive as a team. Everyone's on board. Everyone wants to do his version, not their version of what America First agenda is. And people are just trying to get the job done. comfortable with with the fact that we've we've experienced attacks for the last four to eight years of our lives and no one is new to that and certainly And so the things they throw at us is large.
Russ, one of the things that I feel like we have to... America as a whole is the communication and to have the conversations. I feel like it's been missing. How optimistic are you that with what this president is doing and what you guys. that the tenor of this country can change? Because to me, it's been heartbreaking to watch from afar where there's no conversations being had. I mean, I think we've broken down into facts.
And I think President Trump winning and winning convincingly with the levels that he did is the start of bringing the country back. And then picking these issues that, you know, you get to have a conversation. from your neighborhood your family and just start talking We have to gain that skill.
And to get out of this kind of fever pitch of you guys are Republicans and conservatives, so we're not going to talk to you. We've got to get beyond that. But I've never been more optimistic that we have that.
we had to go through the last four years in order to be where we are today, that people had to realize just how bad it could get and was. Like I've said to my kids, I have three kids in college and to family and friends and strangers and people who come up to me at the airport don't like what I'm saying. We were on the brink of disaster. And I almost feel like for America to understand it, it had to get.
to this point where you guys were on the sidelines and watching it go like this. Am I crazy? I don't think you're crazy. I mean, I think under the Biden administration, we had the logical extension of all of their policies that had been building. And then you had it manifested with a president that was not actually here. and the combination of letting their interest groups go wild.
I think brought the country to the brink of realizing like we literally were on the verge of losing our country. Yes. And so this wasn't, you know, you always go into election. This is the most important election of our lifetime. That really was not, this was fundamentally different in that sense. And I think the whole country saw that, responded accordingly.
Now you have a president who is committed to accomplishing the things that he committed to the American people. There was so much divisiveness. And that's something I love that you've done through the years as a parent. And again, I have kids in college. I look at what so many parents had to deal with, especially with critical race theory and what is being taught. And what I've never understood is the why behind it.
It seems to have been a mission for you to really go after that in particular and try to kick it out. Why? Well, President Trump in 2020, we we were there for three years, three and a half years. We didn't know the extent of CRT. I could. you at the time have now become very very knowledgeable on it but at the time like what is CRT we we became aware of what happening at the agencies and then we've zoomed out and realized this is culturally wide this is this is our entire about the skepticism.
rule of law, dividing people on the basis of race. And President Trump said, Russ, this is your assignment. I need you to go and get it out. We did a lot of work in the intervening years on that front, but we've now come in with a decisive move to make sure that our agencies are not woke. And I define that very simply.
of race and identity or are you not? It doesn't mean we don't have good conversations along the way, but that love for the country, that love for each other, that desire to treat each other as... of God is fundamental and unifying. And without that, we're going to have permanent divisiveness. And in fact, CRT calls for it. I feel like it was just maybe going under the radar for so long. Like, it is in our face. And then you see the results of the election and how...
voted for a Republican president for the first time in more than 50 years. So do you feel like you've made a difference? I think that President Trump has made an incredible difference. And I would say... You know, he made it safe for all manner of people to to go forward and say, this is not right. And that was in 2020.
go to the school board meetings and they know they're going to get called all the names in the book but the president had led to be you know a mom or a dad about what's being taught in my school and as a result they made this revolution over the last four years and now we're seeing the fruits of it yeah i hope there's some pride that in your quiet moments that you could take for for
At the forefront of it, I mean, do you ever slow down and realize what you've accomplished, even in the four years where you weren't? Well, we're just trying to go as fast as we can to save the country. And, you know, serving President Trump is a one. And we don't want you may never come again. And the country needs decisive action right now. And being able to work. that will get your back on these tough issues that the adversaries will come your way is incredible.
It is so cool to see. Do you diary? Do you keep a journal? I hope I don't. I don't. You have to. I do not. But there's so much that's. single day and that you have done. You've written books, right? I have not. I've written a lot. Okay. Certainly came up in confirmation. Okay. Good point. But I feel like because this is historic, what we're with. At a time, you know, just a couple of months ago, I thought we're screwed. Sorry. And so it is historic. And I hope that, you know, our children.
really reflect back on this and see that people like you exciting and put your necks out there really on the line to save so real quick we're doing this on opening day for your team are we not we are uh yankees uh we're you know we're in the afternoon game with the brewers so we're looking forward When are you going to have time to watch baseball? I'm hoping that it will hit the click, stay away from Twitter, and hopefully Carlos Rodon replaces Garrett Cole.
Why are you a Yankees fan? I'm from New York. You're a New York native? I am from Mayapak, New York, which is about... North of the city. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Fine. That's your excuse. So all my teams are New York plus UConn. And UConn. Yeah. Ladies? Yeah. I mean, obviously the women. Both of them. Both of them. Well, now it's easy. How are you with Mr. Hurley right now?
I'm fine. I love him. I'm fine with him. He stayed back from going to the Lakers and, you know, couldn't be happy. We had like 10 years of just complete death. And so we're out of those. This is true. After Calhoun and Kevin Olley was there, true. All I'm going to say is that.
It's really easy to be a UConn fan and a Yankees fan. So I have no sympathy for you. So I went through the 1980s as a Yankee fan. And there was no. Yeah, but you've more than made up for it. Why don't you spread the wealth a little bit? Okay. And actually, I hate that phrase. New York Giants, terrible. New York Knicks, long terrible. True. So I've balanced it out. I'm friends with Joe Shane.
And I'm also like, okay, Joe, we got to fix this. But okay, fine. And your downtime, which is none, now we know what Russ gets to do. That's right. my love for sports and my reading. There's something important. You have to separate. I mean, you have to find a way to get away from this, don't you? You do. This is the, this is the stuff that keeps you sane and keeps you connected with, with what keeps the American people.
Is that sports? And that's why President Trump is all over the place at these games and at NASCAR races. It's beautiful to watch. Yeah, that's awesome. Okay, I'm getting eyeballs. meet you in person. This has been great. And I'll work on my acronyms. OMB and all the fancy things. Yes. Thank you.