Let’s pause and look at what the Elon Musk administration has done so far.
Technology
Elon Musk’s first month of destroying America will cost us decades
There’s been a lot of panic about the immediate but somewhat abstract constitutional crisis as Elon Musk’s misleadingly-named Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) rips the government apart. And as much fun as we all are having watching Congress render itself irrelevant and wondering whether the courts even matter, there’s a concrete nightmare looming. Mass unemployment, the defunding of crucial social programs, and just plain incompetence mean that America, as we know it, is already in for hard times.
The degree to which we have failed not merely ourselves but also our children and grandchildren is breathtaking
The scale of destruction in the past four weeks starts at the Soviet devotion to Lysenkoist biological theories, and at maximum, is the American version of Mao’s Cultural Revolution: a disastrous triumph of ideological purity over basic reality. I am not sure it has occurred to the majority of people that we are about to make a Great Leap Forward and destroy our prosperous, relatively peaceful society.
Musk has, in the short term, set us up for a shock to the economy from both unemployment and frozen government grants. This will be felt more or less immediately.
But the long-term costs will be measured in decades. The degree to which we have failed not merely ourselves but also our children and grandchildren is breathtaking. Musk projects — such as undercutting practical preparations for possible disasters and dismantling an educational and scientific system so good that our actual enemies send their children to us for college — combine with disastrous Trump policies like mass deportation to undermine American society. And by alienating our longtime allies and cozying up to Russia, we set ourselves up to be a pariah state.
Let’s start with the federal workers. How many federal workers has Elon Musk fired? As of Valentine’s Day, Reuters figured 10,000. That number is almost certainly higher now. Many of the “probationary” employees he targeted were, in fact, quite senior — people who had just gotten promoted or who had been working for government contractors and then transitioned to working for the government itself. Often, these people were military veterans. Another 75,000 have taken a buyout from the Musk regime.
Kansas City, Missouri, for instance, doesn’t have enough jobs to absorb all its ex-federal workers
Among those fired: hundreds of Federal Aviation Administration employees, including air traffic controllers that keep flying safe. Over 1,000 people from the Department of Veterans Affairs, which provides healthcare to vets. On top of these specifics lies the basic fact that unemployed people have less money to spend in the rest of the economy. The pain might be most visible in reputationally liberal areas like the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland. But it’s widespread — Kansas City, Missouri, for instance, doesn’t have enough jobs to absorb all its ex-federal workers. There are laid-off workers in Illinois, Oklahoma, Iowa, and Florida — in fact, all over the US.
It gets worse, because the recent pause in federal spending — driven first by an executive order from President Donald Trump and now by the chaos of DOGE — threatens the stability of many, many more people. Take, for instance, farmers and ranchers. They’re Trump voters, mostly, but this may push many of them into bankruptcy, since they depended on government programs to pay for farm upgrades they already made. The dismantling of the US Agency for International Development, or USAID, means that an agricultural buyer who dropped $2 billion into the sector is now gone. Rural areas broadly rely on federal funding, of course.
It gets worse. Acts of aggression toward our trading partners mean that Canadians are starting to avoid US products. The EU is considering an import block on soybeans. That’s fewer places for farmers and ranchers to sell their products. America might not give a good goddamn about science or scientists, but cutting their funds also hits hospitals, which guarantees worse patient care.
Did you think I was done? I haven’t even gotten to the existential disasters. The Department of Agriculture has fired, it says accidentally, a number of people working on bird flu. (The agency is now attempting to rehire those workers.) Because the Musk regime froze all communications, there was no word from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on bird flu for weeks.
There’s no considered plan, just careless mass destruction — and Musk’s desire to control everything, whatever the risks
There are other things to fear. DOGE reportedly fired a bunch of nuclear workers before realizing that they were, in fact, quite necessary, and then struggled to rehire them. Oops! Good thing that’s only nuclear weapons. Nothing to worry about, I’m sure.
DOGE isn’t yet inside the CDC, where all the dangerous microbes are kept, but they’re aiming at it. Also, the CDC has access to all electronic healthcare records — so if, let’s say, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. decides he wants to ship everyone on psych meds to a work farm, a thing he has proposed, he can do that.
The Trump administration, obviously, would have done some of this damage without Musk — he wasn’t leading the initial federal spending freeze or bringing in witless cronies, like RFK, Brendan Carr, and Kash Patel, with their own idiotic agendas. But DOGE has targeted a shocking sweep of basic government services with an unprecedented level of slash-and-burn nihilism. There’s no considered plan, just careless mass destruction — and Musk’s desire to control everything, whatever the risks.
DOGE is said to be seeking access to detailed financial records about every American taxpayer. Musk also wants access to Notify.gov, which contains everyone’s phone numbers, along with details such as whether they receive Medicaid. A Social Security chief resigned rather than let Musk into those systems. He reportedly has access to bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, and other personal details as part of the “God mode” access granted to DOGE. So far, this access has only been confirmed at USAID — but it’s not difficult to imagine that it’s been granted elsewhere, too. Oh, DOGE is apparently now inside CISA, indiscriminately hacking away at staff. No way that can possibly expose sensitive information to the US’s adversaries, of which there seem to be an increasing number lately.
At no previous point in my lifetime has a sitting president had to appear on television and tell the public that he is not being manipulated by a scheming vizier
How organized is DOGE? Well, they’re struggling to keep straight whether a contract is worth $8 million or $8 billion. This isn’t an operation targeting government waste. It’s about destroying anyone and anything that might be targeted toward having a functioning society — effete goals like feeding the hungry, stopping climate change, and caring for the sick. DOGE relies on operatives’ elite mastery of the Ctrl + F shortcut and their fierce commitment to anti-“woke” Silicon Valley supremacy. Who needs government expertise when you’ve got ideological conviction, right? Destroying bourgeois experts has never led to bad results!
The military was one of the last DOGE holdouts, but lists have already been submitted for layoffs there — supplemented by plans from TV personality and drunkard Pete Hegseth, who is for some reason the defense secretary, to fire generals and other senior staff, possibly as soon as this week.
You may, at this point, be wondering, “What about Donald Trump?” It is perhaps worth noting that at no previous point in my lifetime has a sitting president had to appear on television and tell the public that he is not being manipulated by a scheming vizier. Not even George W. Bush had to do that, and plenty of people were suspicious of Dick Cheney.
Anyway, Trump shares many of Musk’s goals and has spent his free time dismantling the Pax Americana while sanctioning overseas concentration camps for refugees and dubbing himself a king. If Trump decides to try wresting back control of domestic politics from Musk, the destruction will continue — albeit perhaps with fewer people named “Big Balls.”
The Purge is being declared, but only for Trump supporters
Of course, if Musk and Trump turn on each other, that could wreak its own havoc. Sure, Musk has control of all the payments systems, everyone’s personal data, and a bunch of other sensitive stuff, but Trump also has, you know, an army.
Beside atrocities like blocking AIDS relief and the Panamanian jungle concentration camps, attacks on the rule of law might seem a little dry. Who cares that the disgraced mayor of New York may skate on corruption charges in an open quid pro quo arrangement? But let me make it practical: the Purge is being declared, but only for Trump supporters. Any illegal or violent activity they engage in will be excused, especially if it targets Trump or Musk’s supposed enemies. Pardoning January 6th rioters was just the start.
As all this happens, the putative opposition party is still watching SNL, voting to confirm picks for the Trump / Musk regime, and tweeting weird shit about inflation. Aside from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — who is presently being threatened by Trump’s border czar for informing people of their rights — there has barely been pushback. New York Governor Kathy Hochul, perhaps the most lukewarm Democrat in existence, has nevertheless managed to make one of the strongest showings in the party by slamming the “king” comments. Certainly, there’s resistance from some Americans. People have been annoying their elected officials and protesting fairly continuously.
But many more people are simply tuning out — trying to pretend this isn’t happening. Well, it’s a matter of time before all this comes for them: the potential recession; the impoverished dystopia; the sicker, worse America.
Put it all together. We are in the process of being rendered unemployed, sick, helpless, and fearful of a law that works nakedly in the interest of Musk’s power. I still believe it is possible to stop what is in motion, but the window is closing. It has only been a month. Think of what a year will bring — and what we will lose.
If you’re looking for a relatively affordable way to cut down on cooling costs, Google’s Nest Thermostat can help. It’s packed with smart controls and energy-saving features, and right now it’s on sale in white for $79 ($50 off), which is its best price of the year, at Amazon.
The smart thermostat is quick to install and makes it easy to adjust your home’s temperature whether you’re relaxing in bed or on your way home thanks to the Google Home app. You can also create schedules and control it with your voice using Google Assistant, Alexa, or another Matter-compatible voice assistant.
Once it’s set up, the Nest Thermostat can automatically turn the temperature down when you’re away to help reduce unnecessary energy use, while Google’s Savings Finder feature suggests additional ways to save over time. It also monitors your HVAC system and can alert you if something doesn’t seem right, making it easier to stay on top of maintenance before small issues become bigger, more expensive ones. If you’re eligible, Nest Renew can also automatically shift some of your heating and cooling to times when electricity is cleaner or cheaper.
That said, this is Google’s entry-level model from 2020, so you do miss out on some of the premium features found on the latest Nest Learning Thermostat. Unlike the flagship version, it won’t learn your schedule automatically over time, for example, and lacks support for Nest Temperature Sensors that let you prioritize the temperature in a specific room. Even so, if all you want is an easy way to adjust your home’s temperature remotely and potentially lower your energy bills, the Nest Thermostat is still a solid investment at this price.
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The Justice Department recently charged 455 people in its annual National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The cases involve more than $6.5 billion in alleged false claims. More state Medicaid units took part than in any prior year. Ninety of the accused are doctors or other licensed medical professionals. The DOJ says prosecutors still must prove the charges in court.
Many schemes used other people’s medical identities. Prosecutors also added aggravated identity theft charges in cases across dozens of states. In one case, the co-owner of a Virginia mental health company allegedly paid homeless people with hotel stays. Prosecutors say the company used their Medicaid numbers, then billed Medicaid for crisis services the patients never got.
For the people whose numbers got used, the case file may eventually close. Their medical records may not be so easy to fix. Once someone else’s treatment shows up under your name, it can add wrong information to your chart. It can also use up insurance benefits you may need later. That is harder to undo than canceling a credit card.
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DR OZ WARNS MEDICARE SCAMMERS ARE STEALING BILLIONS — AND YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION COULD BE NEXT
Medical identity theft can put someone else’s claims, prescriptions or diagnoses into your health records, creating problems that can follow you into a doctor’s office. (iStock)
The identity thief’s treatment gets written into your file
Medical identity theft happens when someone uses your name, Social Security number (SSN), health insurance account number, or Medicare number to see a doctor, fill a prescription, buy medical equipment, or submit a claim, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
When care is billed under your name, the thief’s health information can blend into yours. The FTC warns that mixed records can affect the care you’re able to get and the benefits you are able to use. A blood type, a drug allergy, a diagnosis, or a prescription that belongs to a stranger can sit in the file a physician reads before treating you.
Data breaches can feed the market for medical identity theft
Hospitals and insurers hold the exact records that make the fraud work, and those records are stolen often. This does not mean every healthcare breach leads to fraud. However, it explains why your insurance number, Medicare number, SSN and medical records can become valuable long after a breach notice arrives.
This spring, NYC Health + Hospitals reported that an intruder had copied files that may have included health insurance information, medical information, biometric data, billing data and other personal information. The breach was later reported to affect roughly 1.8 million current and former patients and employees.
Once a name, SSN, insurance number, Medicare number or medical record reaches a criminal marketplace, it can be resold to operators who bill under someone else’s identity.
Treat your insurance card like a credit card
Your health insurance and Medicare numbers are what these operations need, so the FTC recommends guarding them the way you would a payment card.
- Keep enrollment forms, benefit statements, and prescription labels somewhere secure, and shred them before throwing them out.
- When a doctor’s office asks for your SSN, ask whether it can use another identifier or the last four digits instead.
- Be wary of anyone who calls, texts, or emails offering free braces, genetic tests, or medical supplies in exchange for your Medicare number; several of the schemes in the June takedown billed Medicare for exactly those items.
- If you are on Medicare, create or log in to your secure Medicare account and review your claims. You can also check your Medicare Summary Notice for services, supplies or equipment you do not recognize. If something looks wrong, call 1-800-MEDICARE.
HOSPICE FRAUD USES STOLEN IDENTITIES FOR FAKE PATIENTS
Experts urge patients to treat insurance cards like credit cards and quickly challenge unfamiliar medical bills, claims or benefits notices. (iStock)
Your credit report may never flag this fraud
Because a fraudulent medical claim runs through insurance and provider systems instead of a credit check, it skips the alerts most people rely on.
Here’s what the FTC says you should look out for:
- A bill or an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statement for care you never received
- A call from a debt collector about a medical debt you do not owe
- A medical collection you do not recognize on your credit report
- A notice from your insurer that you have reached your benefit limit
- A Medicare Summary Notice that lists services, supplies or equipment you never received
What to do first if a medical claim looks wrong
If a bill, EOB or Medicare notice shows care you never received, move quickly and keep everything in writing.
1) Call your insurer or Medicare directly
Call your insurer or Medicare using the number on your card, not a number from a random text, email or voicemail.
2) Get the claim details
Ask for the provider name, date of service, claim number and service details.
3) Request the records in writing
Contact the provider in writing and request the medical or billing records tied to that claim.
4) Report the error
Report the error to your insurer’s fraud department.
5) File an identity theft report
File a report at IdentityTheft.gov if your medical identity was used. That gives you a recovery plan and documentation you may need if fraudulent bills or collections show up later.
6) Save every document
Keep copies of every bill, EOB, letter, portal message, police report and case number.
Correcting a medical file is slower than disputing a charge
Request your records from every provider, clinic, pharmacy, lab and insurer the thief may have used, then report each error in writing. Under HIPAA, a provider generally has 30 days to give you access to your records after a written request, with a possible 30-day extension.
Fixing the record itself can take longer. HHS says a covered provider or health plan usually has up to 60 days to act on a request to amend a medical record, with a possible 30-day extension in certain cases. If the provider or plan created the wrong information, it must amend inaccurate or incomplete information.
There’s one catch, though: a provider may refuse to release records that now contain a stranger’s information, citing that person’s privacy. If that happens, ask for the provider’s privacy officer or patient advocate. You can also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights if you do not get your records or an explanation within the required window.
TEXAS DATA BREACH HITS 3M LICENSE CUSTOMERS
Stolen Medicare, Medicaid or insurance numbers can be used to bill for care, medical equipment or prescriptions patients never received. (kali9/Getty Images)
A credit freeze alone won’t stop a claim under your insurance
A freeze blocks new accounts, but it does nothing about a claim filed with your insurance number. Because medical identity theft can move without touching your credit file, monitoring where your personal information appears is the earliest way to act on it.
An identity theft protection service can monitor the dark web, data broker sites and people-search sites for exposed SSNs, driver’s license numbers, medical ID numbers and email addresses. It can also track all three credit bureaus for medical collections that may follow and flag public-record changes tied to your name.
If misuse happens, some services include fraud resolution support to help you request records, dispute fraudulent claims and work with providers, insurers and credit bureaus. Some plans also include identity theft insurance for eligible recovery costs.
No service can prevent every misuse of your medical identity. However, ongoing monitoring may flag exposed information before another person’s treatment reaches your records and your insurance.
See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at CyberGuy.com.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Medical identity theft hits in a place most of us rarely check: our health records. A stolen credit card can usually be canceled quickly. A stolen Medicare or insurance number can create fake claims, wrong diagnoses and benefit headaches that follow you long after the fraud case ends. I would not wait for a credit alert here. Check your EOBs, Medicare Summary Notices and insurer portals for visits, prescriptions or equipment you never received. Also, treat your insurance card like a payment card. Do not give the number to anyone who calls, texts or emails out of nowhere with a free offer. The most important thing is to act fast. Call your insurer or Medicare, ask for the claim details and request your medical records in writing. Then file at IdentityTheft.gov, so you have the paperwork you need if fraudulent bills or collections show up later.
Have you ever spotted a medical bill, insurance claim or EOB for care you never received? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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Meta might be the next company to make an always-on AI wearable. The company is working on prototype “super sensing” always-aware smart glasses that could continuously record audio and snap photos “every few seconds,” according to the Financial Times. The wearer could then ask Meta AI about the captured audio and images.
However, the images and audio might not be directly available to the user. Here’s how the FT describes one way the glasses could use the data:
In one proposed system, raw footage and audio would not be stored by Meta or made available to the user, several people said. Instead, the metadata from that audio and images would be extracted and uploaded to the server for Meta’s AI to query, which proponents argue would have fewer privacy implications.
But currently, Meta is planning for the LED recording indicator to remain off in “super sensing” mode, the FT reports. In a July 2025 whitepaper, the company said that it would reserve the LED indicator for “active capture” scenarios where the user is saving photos or videos, and leave it off during “AI Feature” use — such as scanning a menu — to avoid users becoming too used to the indicator. (If the indicator was on during the “super sensing” mode, it might also be harder to know when the glasses are actually recording video.)
Meta is also discussing if it would use the captured data for training its AI models. It may also bring the “super sensing” features to glasses it has already released, the FT says.
“While we don’t comment on internal prototypes, we’re committed to getting our glasses right because they need to be loved by both people wearing them and those around them,” Meta spokesperson Dave Arnold says in a statement to The Verge. Arnold also notes that “Our approach has been to develop new technologies that will help people throughout their day, with privacy built in from the ground up.”
Meta hasn’t been shy about some type of always-aware glasses being a possibility. CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in the company’s Q1 2026 earnings call, said that he was “really excited to see the glasses evolve from being able to answer questions to being able to be a personal agent that’s with you all day long, helping you remember things and achieve your goals.” In a March blog post about new Ray-Ban Meta glasses, the company wrote that “with ongoing software updates, Meta AI on glasses will transition from something you have to prompt with a question each time, to a more continuous, in-the-moment assistant that can help throughout the day.”
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