ELON MUSK speaking to Tesla meeting (Shutterstock).

Elon Musk, the controversial billionaire behind Space X astronautics and Tesla electric cars, will join with former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency,” President-elect Donald Trump announced on Tuesday.

According to the Associated Press, the “DOGE” will not actually be a government agency, but an organization that will provide “advice and guidance” to the White House.

In earlier comments, Musk has suggested that he could find over $2 trillion in savings, which would be about one-third of the annual federal budget.

Ramaswamy ran for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, dropped out of the race and endorsed Trump.

In related news, Trump announced that his pick for secretary of defense was Pete Hegeth, a combat veteran and a host on a Fox News television program.

GOP almost in charge of House

Republicans are within two seats of taking control of the House of Representatives. According to The New York Times, the GOP has won 216 of the 218 needed for a majority. Democrats have 207 seats.

Still “uncalled” are 15 seats, several of which are in California, one of the slowest-counting states. Republicans already have established a majority in the U.S. Senate with 52 seats, while Democrats have 47 seats.

North Koreans now in combat in Kursk

RUSSIA VS. UKRAINE (Shutterstock).

The U.S. Department of State has confirmed that North Koreans are in combat against Ukrainian forces in the southwestern Russian area of Kursk.

According to United Press International, an estimated 10,000 or more soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Korea are in action seeking to oust Ukrainians who have seized several hundred square miles in the area.

The addition of North Koreans may just be part of a larger effort. The New York Times is reporting that about 50,000 troops have massed in a combined planned assault to regain the lost territory.

Weather: A cooling-off period

If it’s too warm an autumn for you, just wait. Although the forecast for Wednesday is for a daytime high of 77 (and overnight low of 46), things will chill a bit, to 71 (53) on Thursday) and then to 65 (46/45) on Friday and Saturday. Sunny skies will continue through this time.

Great Thoughts

“There are three periods in life: youth, middle age and ‘how well you look’.”
– Nelson Rockefeller