Sophia Cai
@sophiacai.bsky.social
POLITICO West Wing Playbook author and White House Reporter. Defender of New Jersey. scai@politico.com
Reposted by Sophia Cai
Our White House reporter @sophiacai.bsky.social is traveling with President Trump on his trip to Asia.
She explains what it’s like to fly on Air Force One for 23 hours 👇
She explains what it’s like to fly on Air Force One for 23 hours 👇
October 27, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Our White House reporter @sophiacai.bsky.social is traveling with President Trump on his trip to Asia.
She explains what it’s like to fly on Air Force One for 23 hours 👇
She explains what it’s like to fly on Air Force One for 23 hours 👇
NEW: Trump threatened to move World Cup matches over crime. Host cities are responding with a shrug.
“Our agreements are between FIFA and the host cities,” one host city official told me. “The bid itself was endorsed by the first Trump admin.” www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
“Our agreements are between FIFA and the host cities,” one host city official told me. “The bid itself was endorsed by the first Trump admin.” www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
Trump threatens World Cup host cities over crime. Some respond with a shrug.
Host city officials say they aren’t too concerned about the president's comments.
www.politico.com
October 15, 2025 at 12:19 AM
NEW: Trump threatened to move World Cup matches over crime. Host cities are responding with a shrug.
“Our agreements are between FIFA and the host cities,” one host city official told me. “The bid itself was endorsed by the first Trump admin.” www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
“Our agreements are between FIFA and the host cities,” one host city official told me. “The bid itself was endorsed by the first Trump admin.” www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
Reposted by Sophia Cai
'The boys are fighting' --> Scoopy stuff on tensions inside the Trump administration over the billions of dollars in clean energy cuts. From Politico's @sophiacai.bsky.social and @benlefebvre.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
White House, Energy secretary at odds over $30B in cuts
“There are definitely annoyances with the White House about who gets to decide what gets cut and when it gets cut,” an administration official said.
www.politico.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:53 AM
'The boys are fighting' --> Scoopy stuff on tensions inside the Trump administration over the billions of dollars in clean energy cuts. From Politico's @sophiacai.bsky.social and @benlefebvre.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
TRUMP opens door to not back-paying furloughed employees “We’ll take care of our people,” he says. “But there are some people that really don’t deserve to be taken care of and we’ll take care of them in a different way.”
October 7, 2025 at 5:00 PM
TRUMP opens door to not back-paying furloughed employees “We’ll take care of our people,” he says. “But there are some people that really don’t deserve to be taken care of and we’ll take care of them in a different way.”
The White House is targeting smaller, independent agencies first as it tries to balance making the shutdown as painful as possible for Democrats without making sweeping cuts to more popular and well-known programs w/ @meganmesserly.bsky.social
@myahward.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
@myahward.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
Trump hits independent agencies, spares the big stuff – for now
The White House is balancing making the shutdown as painful as possible for Democrats without making sweeping cuts to more popular and well-known programs.
www.politico.com
October 2, 2025 at 10:09 PM
The White House is targeting smaller, independent agencies first as it tries to balance making the shutdown as painful as possible for Democrats without making sweeping cuts to more popular and well-known programs w/ @meganmesserly.bsky.social
@myahward.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
@myahward.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2025/10...
NEW: Biden’s OMB Director responds to Trump’s OMB directing agencies to prepare RIFs in event of shutdown: “A negotiation, a real one, has to happen,” Shalanda Young tells me. “In what world do you ask people for their votes without sitting down and having a conversation with them?”
t.co/C275xnPTGX
t.co/C275xnPTGX
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook
t.co
September 26, 2025 at 12:01 AM
NEW: Biden’s OMB Director responds to Trump’s OMB directing agencies to prepare RIFs in event of shutdown: “A negotiation, a real one, has to happen,” Shalanda Young tells me. “In what world do you ask people for their votes without sitting down and having a conversation with them?”
t.co/C275xnPTGX
t.co/C275xnPTGX
SCOOP: The White House budget office is instructing federal agencies to prepare reduction-in-force plans for mass firings during a possible government shutdown, according to a memo obtained by Politico. www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
White House to agencies: Prepare mass firing plans for a potential shutdown
In memo, the Trump administration says the Reduction-in-Force plans would go beyond standard shutdown furloughs.
www.politico.com
September 25, 2025 at 1:17 AM
SCOOP: The White House budget office is instructing federal agencies to prepare reduction-in-force plans for mass firings during a possible government shutdown, according to a memo obtained by Politico. www.politico.com/news/2025/09...
Reposted by Sophia Cai
DOGE is plowing on without Elon Musk, according to Rep. Pete Sessions.
“They meet on a regular basis. They are made up of professionals who have a mission. They are people who sincerely want to change the system," he told our @sophiacai.bsky.social.
More: politi.co/3Iqv3Ei
“They meet on a regular basis. They are made up of professionals who have a mission. They are people who sincerely want to change the system," he told our @sophiacai.bsky.social.
More: politi.co/3Iqv3Ei
September 16, 2025 at 5:28 PM
DOGE is plowing on without Elon Musk, according to Rep. Pete Sessions.
“They meet on a regular basis. They are made up of professionals who have a mission. They are people who sincerely want to change the system," he told our @sophiacai.bsky.social.
More: politi.co/3Iqv3Ei
“They meet on a regular basis. They are made up of professionals who have a mission. They are people who sincerely want to change the system," he told our @sophiacai.bsky.social.
More: politi.co/3Iqv3Ei
NEW: U.S. host cities are confronting FIFA about the cost of hosting the World Cup including Fan Festivals. LA organizers are considering their own watch parties beyond FIFA’s control, and FIFA has countered with threats to deny public-viewing licenses.
t.co/CDfI89O2ej
t.co/CDfI89O2ej
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/31/world-cup-us-host-city-cost-00528429
t.co
September 1, 2025 at 3:25 PM
NEW: U.S. host cities are confronting FIFA about the cost of hosting the World Cup including Fan Festivals. LA organizers are considering their own watch parties beyond FIFA’s control, and FIFA has countered with threats to deny public-viewing licenses.
t.co/CDfI89O2ej
t.co/CDfI89O2ej
Reposted by Sophia Cai
August 29, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Scoop: DOGE has brought on at least three foreign nationals including an Uruguayan X employee and two Canadians who did stints at Airbnb to cut federal spending and make the government more efficient, a dynamic that has angered some inside the White House.
www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
The foreigners working for DOGE
At least three foreign nationals including a Uruguayan X employee and two Canadians who did stints at Airbnb are currently working inside the federal government on DOGE projects.
www.politico.com
August 26, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Scoop: DOGE has brought on at least three foreign nationals including an Uruguayan X employee and two Canadians who did stints at Airbnb to cut federal spending and make the government more efficient, a dynamic that has angered some inside the White House.
www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
www.politico.com/news/2025/08...
Reposted by Sophia Cai
NEW: Donald Trump’s encroachment on Congress’ power of the purse has raised increasing alarm in courts and the Capitol — but a crucial legal. victory today may help him stave off challenges.
w/ @sophiacai.bsky.social and crew.
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
w/ @sophiacai.bsky.social and crew.
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Donald Trump: Purse snatcher?
www.politico.com
August 13, 2025 at 10:04 PM
NEW: Donald Trump’s encroachment on Congress’ power of the purse has raised increasing alarm in courts and the Capitol — but a crucial legal. victory today may help him stave off challenges.
w/ @sophiacai.bsky.social and crew.
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
w/ @sophiacai.bsky.social and crew.
www.politico.com/newsletters/...
NEW: The White House has conducted a de-Muskification of GSA by detailing over nine employees, most of whom have ties to the first Trump administration — not to Musk’s world.
www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
White House conducts de-Muskification at GSA
The White House has detailed to GSA nine employees, most of whom have ties to the first Trump administration — not to Musk’s world.
www.politico.com
August 1, 2025 at 1:06 PM
NEW: The White House has conducted a de-Muskification of GSA by detailing over nine employees, most of whom have ties to the first Trump administration — not to Musk’s world.
www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
Reposted by Sophia Cai
Trump ally is launching a super PAC called FSD PAC to counter Musk
A play on Tesla’s “full self-driving,” it stands for Full Support for Donald
Will spend in races where Musk backs a 3rd party hopeful or primary challenger
by @sophiacai.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
A play on Tesla’s “full self-driving,” it stands for Full Support for Donald
Will spend in races where Musk backs a 3rd party hopeful or primary challenger
by @sophiacai.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
Trump ally launches new super PAC to counter Musk
The new PAC comes as multiple Republicans shrug off the latest social media spat as little to worry about.
www.politico.com
July 2, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Trump ally is launching a super PAC called FSD PAC to counter Musk
A play on Tesla’s “full self-driving,” it stands for Full Support for Donald
Will spend in races where Musk backs a 3rd party hopeful or primary challenger
by @sophiacai.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
A play on Tesla’s “full self-driving,” it stands for Full Support for Donald
Will spend in races where Musk backs a 3rd party hopeful or primary challenger
by @sophiacai.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/07...
a real headline I filed today
June 25, 2025 at 11:21 PM
a real headline I filed today
When Lori Chavez-DeRemer served in Congress, she was honored for championing the Job Corps program.
As Labor Secretary, she’s initiating a full-scale shutdown of the $1.7B program that trains & houses 25k low-income youth each year. w/ @nickniedz.bsky.social www.politico.com/newsletters/...
As Labor Secretary, she’s initiating a full-scale shutdown of the $1.7B program that trains & houses 25k low-income youth each year. w/ @nickniedz.bsky.social www.politico.com/newsletters/...
West Wing Playbook: Remaking Government
Your guide to Donald Trump’s unprecedented overhaul of the federal government.
www.politico.com
June 3, 2025 at 10:17 PM
When Lori Chavez-DeRemer served in Congress, she was honored for championing the Job Corps program.
As Labor Secretary, she’s initiating a full-scale shutdown of the $1.7B program that trains & houses 25k low-income youth each year. w/ @nickniedz.bsky.social www.politico.com/newsletters/...
As Labor Secretary, she’s initiating a full-scale shutdown of the $1.7B program that trains & houses 25k low-income youth each year. w/ @nickniedz.bsky.social www.politico.com/newsletters/...
Reposted by Sophia Cai
It’s Friday with @waytooearly.bsky.social:
☀️ @sophiacai.bsky.social
☕️ Matt Gorman
🌞 @jonathankott.bsky.social
🫖 @brandonwolf.bsky.social
🌅 @allieevolpe.bsky.social
Why are you ending your week awake with us? Reply here or email waytooearly@msnbc.com. #WayTooEarly
☀️ @sophiacai.bsky.social
☕️ Matt Gorman
🌞 @jonathankott.bsky.social
🫖 @brandonwolf.bsky.social
🌅 @allieevolpe.bsky.social
Why are you ending your week awake with us? Reply here or email waytooearly@msnbc.com. #WayTooEarly
May 30, 2025 at 8:03 AM
It’s Friday with @waytooearly.bsky.social:
☀️ @sophiacai.bsky.social
☕️ Matt Gorman
🌞 @jonathankott.bsky.social
🫖 @brandonwolf.bsky.social
🌅 @allieevolpe.bsky.social
Why are you ending your week awake with us? Reply here or email waytooearly@msnbc.com. #WayTooEarly
☀️ @sophiacai.bsky.social
☕️ Matt Gorman
🌞 @jonathankott.bsky.social
🫖 @brandonwolf.bsky.social
🌅 @allieevolpe.bsky.social
Why are you ending your week awake with us? Reply here or email waytooearly@msnbc.com. #WayTooEarly
🚨🚨100 days of DOGE:
— 250,000 workers exiting
— 11 agencies gutted
— 64 lawsuits filed
— $160B in claimed savings
— 8,500 contracts + 10,000 grants killed
Yet government spending is still higher than last year.
t.co/spexOMt2rR
— 250,000 workers exiting
— 11 agencies gutted
— 64 lawsuits filed
— $160B in claimed savings
— 8,500 contracts + 10,000 grants killed
Yet government spending is still higher than last year.
t.co/spexOMt2rR
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/29/doge-impact-washington-spending-100days-00316587
t.co
April 29, 2025 at 8:32 PM
🚨🚨100 days of DOGE:
— 250,000 workers exiting
— 11 agencies gutted
— 64 lawsuits filed
— $160B in claimed savings
— 8,500 contracts + 10,000 grants killed
Yet government spending is still higher than last year.
t.co/spexOMt2rR
— 250,000 workers exiting
— 11 agencies gutted
— 64 lawsuits filed
— $160B in claimed savings
— 8,500 contracts + 10,000 grants killed
Yet government spending is still higher than last year.
t.co/spexOMt2rR
NEW: The Trump administration has just placed the entire AmeriCorps agency (except a few senior leaders) on administrative leave
April 17, 2025 at 1:53 AM
NEW: The Trump administration has just placed the entire AmeriCorps agency (except a few senior leaders) on administrative leave
How Musk’s influence will endure
- DOGE insiders feel their work is far from finished & most are political appointees, not SGEs
- Musk’s installed many chief info officers across agencies
- Beyond cutting, DOGE will consolidate gov and help set policy
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
- DOGE insiders feel their work is far from finished & most are political appointees, not SGEs
- Musk’s installed many chief info officers across agencies
- Beyond cutting, DOGE will consolidate gov and help set policy
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
How Musk’s influence will endure long after he leaves Washington
Even if Musk no longer holes up in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building or sits in on Cabinet meetings, the billionaire has stocked the government with allies who can stay in their positions for m...
www.politico.com
April 6, 2025 at 3:43 PM
How Musk’s influence will endure
- DOGE insiders feel their work is far from finished & most are political appointees, not SGEs
- Musk’s installed many chief info officers across agencies
- Beyond cutting, DOGE will consolidate gov and help set policy
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
- DOGE insiders feel their work is far from finished & most are political appointees, not SGEs
- Musk’s installed many chief info officers across agencies
- Beyond cutting, DOGE will consolidate gov and help set policy
www.politico.com/news/2025/04...
Reposted by Sophia Cai
News: In a private meeting with Senate Finance staff, RFK Jr. expressed openness to progressive proposals for using march-in rights and compulsory licensing to lower drug prices
w @sophiacai.bsky.social: www.politico.com/news/2025/01...
w @sophiacai.bsky.social: www.politico.com/news/2025/01...
RFK Jr. says he’s open to seizing drug patents
Trump’s health secretary nominee met with Hill staffers ahead of his hearing this week.
www.politico.com
January 28, 2025 at 12:13 AM
News: In a private meeting with Senate Finance staff, RFK Jr. expressed openness to progressive proposals for using march-in rights and compulsory licensing to lower drug prices
w @sophiacai.bsky.social: www.politico.com/news/2025/01...
w @sophiacai.bsky.social: www.politico.com/news/2025/01...
Trump gets specific on tariffs:
A tariff of 25% on all goods coming from Canada and Mexico would take effect on Jan. 20
Imports from China would face a 10% tariff "above any additional Tariffs," he wrote. www.axios.com/2024/11/26/t...
A tariff of 25% on all goods coming from Canada and Mexico would take effect on Jan. 20
Imports from China would face a 10% tariff "above any additional Tariffs," he wrote. www.axios.com/2024/11/26/t...
Trump plans new tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China
Some of them would take effect as soon as Jan. 20.
www.axios.com
November 26, 2024 at 2:10 AM
Trump gets specific on tariffs:
A tariff of 25% on all goods coming from Canada and Mexico would take effect on Jan. 20
Imports from China would face a 10% tariff "above any additional Tariffs," he wrote. www.axios.com/2024/11/26/t...
A tariff of 25% on all goods coming from Canada and Mexico would take effect on Jan. 20
Imports from China would face a 10% tariff "above any additional Tariffs," he wrote. www.axios.com/2024/11/26/t...
NEW: Friction between Elon Musk & longtime Trump advisor Boris Epshteyn led to a “massive blowup” at dinner at Mar-a-lago last week. It was no surprise to senior staffers who've seen tension between the two bubble up during transition meetings. t.co/oXieLCamzp
https://www.axios.com/2024/11/18/trump-cabinet-musk-adviser-clash
t.co
November 18, 2024 at 2:04 PM
NEW: Friction between Elon Musk & longtime Trump advisor Boris Epshteyn led to a “massive blowup” at dinner at Mar-a-lago last week. It was no surprise to senior staffers who've seen tension between the two bubble up during transition meetings. t.co/oXieLCamzp