CNN One Thing

Last year, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency took a chainsaw to the federal government, slashing jobs and cutting programs in the name of eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse. While it did not reduce spending, current and former government officials tell CNN that some of the cuts are hampering government readiness amid the Iran war. Now, the government is looking to ramp up hiring again – but only with workers who align with the Trump administration’s priorities. We hear from a former federal worker about how last year’s cuts impacted her, and from an expert who says he's concerned about adding more political appointees to the mix. 

For more: ‘A shell of our former self’: How Trump and Musk’s spending cuts are hampering US government readiness amid the Iran war 

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Guests: Melissa Patsalides & Max Stier, Partnership for Public Service President and CEO 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin 

Editorial Support: Tami Luhby

Photo: Allison Robbert/AFP/Getty Images
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The war in Iran has effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for transporting roughly 20% of the world’s oil. As a result, ships are stuck and gas prices are climbing in the US. We look at the Trump administration’s possible solutions, and the key psychological benchmark that could push their political problem to a breaking point. 

For more: The grim choice facing the Trump administration: Economic or naval collapse? 

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Guests: Martín Izaguirre Salgado & David Goldman, CNN Business Senior Reporter 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin 

Editorial Support: Vanessa Yurkevich

Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
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Anger directed at OpenAI is spreading after it struck a deal with the Pentagon to use its AI models in classified systems, just hours after its rival, Anthropic, refused. OpenAI said it had shared Anthropic’s concerns about mass surveillance and autonomous weapons, so why did they sign? And what does this mean for other companies looking to do business with the Trump administration? 

For more: Some OpenAI staff are fuming about its Pentagon deal 

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Guests: Hadas Gold, CNN AI Correspondent & Dean Ball, Senior Fellow at The Foundation for American Innovation 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin

Photo: WH Pool
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As Iran continues to retaliate against the US and Israel, civilians in major Gulf countries are caught in the crossfire. Will these nations be forced to respond? And do they have the military firepower needed to keep up? We break down what we can learn from the military operations thus far and look at how an Iranian power vacuum could complicate the endgame. 

For more: The rationale for striking Iran was already a mess. Trump just made it worse. 

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Guests: Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Chief International Security Correspondent & Mark Kimmitt, Brigadier General (Ret.) 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin 

Editorial Support: Natasha Maguder, Natalie Wright

Photo: Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images
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After months of planning, the US and Israel struck Iran as part of a massive operation aimed at unseating the hardline Iranian regime. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes, according to Israeli sources. Iran has retaliated, hitting US military bases and major population centers across the region. So how long will the conflict last? And is regime change even feasible? We break down what we know as of Saturday afternoon. 

For more: Trump launches the regime-change effort in Iran that he pledged to avoid 

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Guest: Natasha Bertrand, CNN Correspondent 

Host: David Rind 

Producer: Paola Ortiz 

Showrunner: Felicia Patinkin

Photo: AP
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