Musk's Growing Power, and Russia Releases American Teacher

Plus, who isn’t in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.   On Today’s Episode: Trump Orders Plans for ‘Large Scale’ Work Force Cuts and Expands Musk’s Power (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/us/politics/trump-musk-doge-federal-workers.html) , by Theodore Schleifer and Madeleine Ngo Johnson ‘Wholeheartedly’ Agrees With Trump’s Spending Cuts, Undermining Congress (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/podcasts/the-headlines/elon-musk-lithium-ion-batteries.html) , by Karoun Demirjian and Maya C. Miller Russia Releases U.S. Prisoner After Talks With Trump Envoy (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/us/politics/marc-fogel-teacher-released-russia.html) , by Jonathan Swan, Maggie Haberman, Julian E. Barnes and Anton Troianovski Gaza Cease-Fire Imperiled as Netanyahu Threatens to Resume ‘Intense Fighting,’ (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/world/middleeast/israel-hamas-ceasefire-hostages.html) by Lara Jakes, Patrick Kingsley, Ronen Bergman and Thomas Fuller A California Battery Plant Burned. Residents Have Gotten Sick, and Anxious (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/10/us/california-battery-plant-fire.html) , by Orlando Mayorquín Monty, a Dignified Giant Schnauzer, Wins Best in Show at Westminster (https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/02/11/style/westminster-dog-show-results) , by Sarah Lyall and Callie Holtermann Chubby Checker, Phish and Outkast Among Rock Hall Nominees (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/arts/music/rock-hall-nominees-chubby-checker-phish-outkast.html) , by Ben Sisario Tune in every weekday morning. To get our full audio journalism and storytelling experience, download (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nyt-audio/id1549293936)  the New York Times Audio app — available to Times news subscribers on iOS — and sign up (https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/audio)  for our weekly newsletter. Tell us what you think at: [email protected].