It depends on "good for who" and over what time scale. My dominant model is this: the core of the Trump administration is most interested in remaining in power

It depends on "good for who" and over what time scale. My dominant model is this: the core of the Trump administration is most interested in remaining in power and building connections. So they do whatever works to garner favor. They are relatively unaware or unafraid of the gathering storm of legal pushback. I think they figure they can get away with a lot before it catches up to them, politically or legally. This includes taking actions that they know are illegal. Bluntly, with their own admission, they are bringing a chainsaw to the status quo. Why? Probably because this builds power: others are beholden to them to build it back. I don't think there is much of a shared sense of "doing what is best" for the country. I view them as opportunists, hoping to ride Trump's popularity. Around them is a coalition with a range of interests. Some are genuine believers that DOGE will bring greater long-term economic growth (i.e. GDP). Some are so ideological that no real-world scenario would prompt them to change their policy prescriptions. Some of the coalition actively wants to reduce separation of church and state. Some are willing to curtail freedom of the press. It is a dangerous coalition because each part seems willing to let the other parts get what they want. They seem to fail to understand the importance of the rule of law and economic stability. I wonder how many know that Silicon Valley wouldn't exist without government research. Have they studied history? I can't claim to peer into their brains. I am curious as to what various people on the inside think they are accomplishing. It sure seems like a risky bet to ally with Trump; any allies better be ready to contort themselves to his various mercurial whims. Which parts of the coalition can get what they want and come out the other side in good shape? It seems to me they are burning the candle at both ends. Up until now, I've been reluctantly tolerant (far from happy) with a manageable level of government inefficiency, military-industrial backscratching, political pork sharing, and insufferably inane politics -- because, put together, this seems to a relatively stable way of maintaining some semblance of a representative democracy, healthy economy, a strong entrepreneurial sector, strong national defense, and math/science research. But the current direction is far worse. I don't think economic chaos, massive privatization, blatant corruption, likely Constitutional crises, meddling with the free press, using government for political retribution of (institutions, universities, individuals), loss of confidence in SCOTUS, etc... is doing to lead the US in promising directions. A significant number of people and business are going to leave. We're losing national prestige. It is a net loss to America and the world. But a net gain to Trump and his circle, at least in the short-run.