Zoë Schiffer: Yeah, I mean, I was talking to someone before these recent layoffs who had previously worked at the CDC and was quite involved in efforts to study the impact of certain diseases or pandemics, particularly on pregnant populations, and that person told me a while back that he didn’t have the entire team. There weren’t many people on the ground anymore who could look at a particularly vulnerable population from a health perspective, which I found quite depressed and disturbing, but now, I mean, it’s getting worse. It’s getting worse.
Jake Lahut: Russell Vought seems pretty joyful with every additional version of what keeps coming down to earth, so.
Zoë Schiffer: Normal. OK. In the next episode, we’ll talk more about federal layoffs and their impact on other agencies. But before we go to break, I have a fun and very technical tidbit for you, Cybertrucks.
Jake Lahut: Yes. Honestly, I should be paying you to perform tonight, Zoë, so tell me more about it.
Zoë Schiffer: OK. Well, I found this story incredibly cute because basically our feature director, Reyhan, said, “Let’s do a photo op of Cybertruck owners.” And I said, “I’m volunteering as a tribute.” I really want to do this.” So I contacted a few people, basically drove around and when I saw Cybertrucks I left little notes on their car. No one ever responded to me, I thought.
Jake Lahut: Stalker behavior.
Zoë Schiffer: “OK, fine.” But I finally reached out to the guy who runs Cybertrucks Owners Only, which is this really vigorous Facebook group of 50,000 people. And he, although very suspicious of the media, like many Cybertrucks owners, said, “I’m in. If you come to Palm Springs this weekend, we can organize a Cybertrucks meeting where you can meet people, you can take photos and interview them.” I love reports where your original thesis is completely debunked during the report and Cybertrucks owners actually see themselves as victims of this campaign. They are spat at, they are targeted, people shout that they are Nazis. Many people I talk to don’t see buying this car as political. They say, “I just like this car. It’s a nice car, it’s fun, and all these crazy liberals are yelling at me all day long. I have my kids in the car and they’re chasing me and calling me a Nazi.” The article was published today and has some really frosty photos in it. I wonder what you think about this.