Episode Details

During the continuing government shutdown, President Trump has posted memes depicting Russel T. Vought, the White House budget director, as the grim reaper.

Coral Davenport, a Washington correspondent for The Times, explains how Mr. Vought, a once obscure official, has become one of the most influential figures in Washington.

Guest: Coral Davenport, a Washington correspondent for The New York Times, focusing on the Trump administration’s dismantling of federal rules.

Background reading: 

• Mr. Vought has exerted his influence over nearly every corner of President Trump’s Washington with his command of the levers of the federal budget.
• Both parties are resigned to deadlock as the government shutdown takes hold.

Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. 

Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.