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The little-known official quietly driving Trump’s second term

Shownote

Russell Vought, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, has become one of the most influential figures shaping Trump’s second term. He’s the main driver of efforts to weaken federal agencies and push through sweeping government layoffs. In a r...

Highlights

Russell Vought has emerged as a pivotal architect of conservative governance, operating from the shadows to reshape the executive branch in ways that could redefine presidential power. Far beyond traditional budget oversight, his influence stretches across policy, personnel, and institutional control—positioning him at the center of a transformative agenda for a potential second Trump term.
10:20
Vought uses OMB to withhold funds illegally to push presidential agenda
16:30
Vought drafted 350+ executive orders during exile to ensure Trump could act immediately in a second term
25:23
Russell Vought aims to remove legal barriers to presidential power.
29:06
Vought believes current laws enable unconstitutional executive overreach and wants the Supreme Court to intervene.

Chapters

Who Is the Man Behind the Plan to Reshape the Federal Government?
00:00
How Did a Funding Freeze in Ukraine Foreshadow a Bigger Power Grab?
14:09
What Is Project 2025—and How Is Vought Preparing to Execute It?
17:52
Can the Presidency Survive a Surge of Unchecked Executive Power?
29:06

Transcript

Shumita Basu: This is In Conversation from Apple News. I'm Shumita Basu. Today, how one man is quietly reshaping the federal government. Late last year, investigative news outlet ProPublica published a video of a private speech given by a former Trump offi...